Jan Steen

1626 - 1679
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Jan Steen was born at Leiden, where he mainly worked, with periods in Haarlem, Utrecht and The Hague. He is famous for his witty moralising scenes of domestic life, which are well represented in the National Gallery's large group of paintings by the artist. He was a lifelong Catholic, and also produced religious and mythological paintings.

Portrait of Jan Steen
Detail from Jan Steen, Self Portrait playing the Lute, 1655
© The Art Archive/Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection Madrid/Kharbine-Tapabor/Coll. Bouquig 

His father was a brewer and leased a brewery for Steen at Delft (1654-7). In 1672 he was licensed to keep an inn at Leiden. Jan Steen attended Leiden University in 1646; his paintings often contain literary or theatrical references.

Related paintings

A Man blowing Smoke at a Drunken Woman
A Man blowing Smoke at a Drunken Woman
Jan Steen
about 1660-5
A Man blowing Smoke at a Drunken Woman
A Peasant Family at Meal-time ('Grace before Meat')
A Peasant Family at Meal-time ('Grace before Meat')
Jan Steen
about 1665
A Peasant Family at Meal-time ('Grace before Meat')
A Pedlar selling Spectacles outside a Cottage
A Pedlar selling Spectacles outside a Cottage
Jan Steen
about 1650-3
A Pedlar selling Spectacles outside a Cottage
A Young Woman playing a Harpsichord to a Young Man
A Young Woman playing a Harpsichord to a Young Man
Jan Steen
probably 1659
A Young Woman playing a Harpsichord to a Young Man
An Interior with a Man offering an Oyster to a Woman
An Interior with a Man offering an Oyster to a Woman
Jan Steen
probably 1660-5
An Interior with a Man offering an Oyster to a Woman
Peasants merry-making outside an Inn
Peasants merry-making outside an Inn
Jan Steen
about 1645-50
Peasants merry-making outside an Inn
Skittle Players outside an Inn
Skittle Players outside an Inn
Jan Steen
probably 1660-3
Skittle Players outside an Inn
The Effects of Intemperance
The Effects of Intemperance
Jan Steen
about 1663-5
The Effects of Intemperance
The Interior of an Inn ('The Broken Eggs')
The Interior of an Inn ('The Broken Eggs')
Jan Steen
about 1665-70
The Interior of an Inn ('The Broken Eggs')
Two Men and a Young Woman making Music on a Terrace
Two Men and a Young Woman making Music on a Terrace
Jan Steen
about 1670-5
Two Men and a Young Woman making Music on a Terrace
An Itinerant Musician saluting Two Women in a Kitchen
An Itinerant Musician saluting Two Women in a Kitchen
After Jan Steen
probably about 1770
An Itinerant Musician saluting Two Women in a Kitchen
 
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The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN