STEEN, Stiin, JAN (e.I WA-TO ). A celebrated Dutch genre painter, foremost among the de lineators of low life, which he illustrated with rare mastery. Born at Leyden, he is said to have been instructed first at Utrecht ln• Nicolas Knupfer (1603-60), then at The Hague by Jan van Goyen, whose daughter he ma riled in 1649. He lived at Haarlem from 1661 to 1669, in con stant pecuniary difficulties, varying his pursuit of art by renting a brewery at Delft awl keeping a tavern at Leyden. With regard to his artistic training it seems likely that lie received im pressions from Frans and Dirk Hals. The influ ence of the latter is plainly traceable in Steen's early productions, notably in the "Wedding Par ty" (Ducal Palace. Dessau), the most character istic specimen, but also in the humorous "Bridal Procession" (1653, Six Gallery, Amsterdam), in "After the Carousal" and "Revelry" (both in Am sterdam Museum), and in "Dissolute Company" (Berlin Museum). All these transplant us to the sphere in which so many scenes depicted by Steen are enacted, the atmosphere of low taverns, where the changes on the theme "Wine, Woman, and Song" are rung in all imaginable varia tions. Indubitably Jan Steen is the most genial among the masters of the genre in the entire Dutch school. His dated pictures belong, with a few exceptions, to the decade from 1660 to 1671, his Haarlem period. the most bril liant of his artistic activity. Its beginning is marked by the ingenious domestic scene known as "The Menagerie" (1660. Hague Gal
lery), and in strong contrast to it "Prince's Day" (Amsterdam Museum), with numerous figures. Other noteworthy examples at The Hague are: "The Painter's Family" (e.16631, "Oyster Party in Steen's Brewery." and "Doctor's Visit:" and in Amsterdam: "Eve of Saint Nicholas," a favor ite and often repeated subject of the master, "Family Scene" (2). "The Parrot's Cage," "Cat's Dancing Lesson." "Rural Wedding," and "Love sick." one of his most perfect works. The Brus sels Museum contains "A Gallant Offer" and "The Rhetoricians:" the Louvre, "Evil Association," "Family Repast." and "A Village Festival" ( 1674), with many figures. Besides similar subjects in the galleries of Berlin, Munich, and Vienna. there are to be mentioned "The Feast of Beans" (166S, Cassel Gallery) and "The Marriage Contract" (Brunswick Museum). perhaps his most remark able work for size. dramatic feeling, and equably carried out execution. A cabinet piece in the manner of Terhoreh is the "Music T.esson" (1671). in the National Gallery. London. and several fine interiors may he seen in Buckimdmin Palace, London, while over ninety of his works are in private collections in England. Consult : Van Westrheene, Jun Steen. Etude cur l'art rn Tiollande (The Hague, 1856) Lemeke, in Dohme, Kunst and ti it nst ler, etc. (Leipzig, I 87s ) and Rosenberg, Tcrboreh and -Jan ~teen 1~97).