The Holy Family

1679 · Private collection

religious

This small panel is characterised by its close-up, densely packed composition and skilful use of two light sources. A lit candle in the centre of the work illuminates the crowded faces, and an oil lamp lights up the wall and reveals the artist's signature. The work's style allows it to be allocated to the artist's early period, which was marked by the influence of the "Fijnschilder" of the Leiden School.

About the Artist

Matthijs Naiveu

1647 – 1726

Dutch painter (also spelt Neveu). He was the son of a wine merchant from Rotterdam and began his training with Abraham Toorenvliet (c. 1620-92), a glass painter and drawing master in Leiden. From 1667 to 1669 Naiveu was apprenticed to the Leiden 'Fine' painter Gerrit Dou, who received 100 guilders a year (an exceptionally high sum) for instructing Naiveu. In 1671 Naiveu entered the Leiden Guild of St Luke, of which he became the head in 1677 and again in 1678, the year in which he moved to Amsterdam, where he was later appointed hop inspector. This work did not prevent him producing a considerable number of paintings; the earliest known work by Naiveu is dated 1668, the latest 1721. There are dated paintings for almost every year in between; his most productive periods were 1675-79 and 1705-12.

View all works →