The art historian Frans Grijzenhout and the historian Niek van Sas have studied Jan Steen’s so-called Burgomaster of Delft, the most expensive acquisition ever made by the Rijksmuseum.

 

They have come to the conclusion that the sitter is the grain merchant Adolf Croeser and his daughter Catharina. The museum has published a book on their research, which was presented this afternoon at a study session in the museum, and is holding a small exhibition on their findings. See the web special on the Rijksmuseum website (no longer available).