Jan Claesz.:Portrait of Albert Fransz Sonck, Elisabeth Walings and two children (1602)

(Westfries museum, Hoorn, The Netherlands)

Two paintings by the Dutch artist Jan Claesz. (1570 – 1618). Depicted is Albert Fransz Sonck, his first wife Elisabeth Walings and two of their children:

Left painting
- Albert Fransz Sonck (1571- 1658); a knight and a wealthy citizen of the town of Hoorn. Albert served as a politician, mayor, member of the Admirality, regent of the Dutch East india company (V.O.C.) and ambassador. He married with Elisabeth Walings in 1597 and remarried in 1622 with Cornelia Segwaert and the death of his first wife. On this painting Albert is 30 years old.

- Frans Albertsz Sonck (1600- ?); son of Albert and Elisabeth Walings, he died 'at a young age'. On this painting he is two years old. Typical he is wearing a skirt (boys wore skirts from the time they could walk until the age of 6-8 when they were able to dress themselves) and is holding a rattle.

Right painting:
- Elisabeth Claesdr Walings (1574/75 - after 1606); first wife of Albert. On the painting she is 27 years old and is shown in a black 'vlieger', a sleeveless over-gown or cape, with a millstone collar and a 'winged cap' (Dutch : vleugelmuts). The meaning of the ship in the left corner is not clear. It could be reference to the profession of her family.

- Elisabeth Sonck (1598 - 1657); daughter of Albert and Elisabeth Walings. She is 4 years old on the painting and is wearing a black/ red dress. She is holding a maiden pink - symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. Elisabeth Sonck married in 1621 with Seyne Albertsz Coninck.

Paintings from 1602.