The Feast of Saint Nicholas

Jan Havicksz. Steen (in circa 1670)

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Gisela Radicke asked

What is on the table in front of the boy?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Gisela, Thanks for your question. It is difficult to see exactly what is there, but I recognize a shoe with a rod in it, which would mean that Saint Nicholas did not give him any gifts but punishment instead. Maybe that's why he grabs his ear in pain.Then there are a ball, a bundle of sticks (fuses?), a little hook, a few mussel shells and a white roll which I cannot identify. These objects might be connected to the boy's misbehaviors for which he is punished. I hope this is helpful. Kind regards, Els
Antonia asked

What is the object next to the brazier and the pink skirt?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Antonia, this painting depicts a celebration of Saint Nicholas. In the Netherlands this feast is accompanied with presents and speciific candies (named 'pepernoten') and cookies (named 'speculaas' and 'taaitaai'). The cookies come in the shape of a doll, in various sizes. This seems to be a large 'taaitaai'-doll. I hope this is helpful. Kind regards, Els
Jane Choy asked

What is the round object that the little girl is holding?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Jane, the girl is holding a kind of spiced biscuit: 'speculaas'. A treat that people in The Netherlands today still eat and receive as a gift during the feast of St. Nicolas. best, Sophie

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Specifications

Title	The Feast of Saint Nicholas
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object

Dimensions	Width 49 cm Height 58,5 cm
Artists	Painter: Jan Havicksz. Steen
Accession number	1826 (OK)
Credits	From the estate of F.J.O. Boijmans, 1847
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1847
Creation date	in circa 1670
Collector	Collector / F.J.O. Boijmans
External exhibitions	Sinterklaas, wie kent hem niet? (2009) Winter Tales. Depictions of Winter in European Art from Bruegel to Beuys (2011) De kunst van het opvoeden (2013) Langdurig bruikleen Steen, Calvijn, Weenix en Cuyp (2019)
Research	Show research Alma
Material	Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe

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All about the artist

Jan Havicksz. Steen

Leiden 1626 - Leiden 1679

Jan Steen is known for his humorous depictions of the everyday life of farmers and the middle-classes in 17th-century Holland. He worked in The Hague, Haarlem,...

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