Portrait of Livina van Steelant

These portraits of a patrician family were possibly the outer panels of a triptych whose middle panel has disappeared. The coats of arms and mottos in the opened book of hours tell us who is portrayed here. The husband and wife are depicted together with their children. By the time the painting was done however, both children, who hold crosses…

These portraits of a patrician family were possibly the outer panels of a triptych whose middle panel has disappeared. The coats of arms and mottos in the opened book of hours tell us who is portrayed here. The husband and wife are depicted together with their children. By the time the painting was done however, both children, who hold crosses in their folded hands, had already died. A guardian angel stands behind them. The Ghent miniaturist and panel-painter Gerard Horenbout, to whom these potraits are attributed, worked at the court of Margaret of Austria. Their extremely refined naturalism and great technical quality are reminiscent of the work of Gerard David.