The Feast of Saint Nicholas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Feast of Saint Nicholas
Artist	Jan Steen
Year	c. 1665–1668
Medium	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	82 cm × 70.5 cm (33+1⁄2 in × 27 in)
Location	Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dutch: Het Sint-Nicolaasfeest) is a famous oil painting by the Dutch artist Jan Steen. He painted it around 1665–1668. This artwork is now kept at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The painting is about 82 by 70.5 centimeters in size. It shows a lively family celebrating the Feast of Saint Nicholas, also known as Sinterklaas, on December 5th.

Jan Steen and Dutch Art

Jan Steen was a Dutch painter who lived in the 1600s. He was known for his "genre" paintings. These paintings showed scenes from everyday life. During this time, Dutch art was very special. Artists like Aelbert Cuyp and Jacob van Ruisdael painted beautiful landscapes. Other artists, like Jan Vermeer and Jan Steen, focused on scenes inside homes.

The Dutch economy was doing very well back then. Many wealthy merchants became new art buyers. They liked paintings that showed their own daily lives. So, scenes of families at home became very popular. These paintings give us a peek into how Dutch families lived centuries ago.

Painting in the Dutch Golden Age

Jan Steen's work is part of the Baroque art period. However, Dutch Baroque painting was different from art in other countries. It focused on real life, not grand, idealized scenes. Dutch artists were known for their amazing detail and realism.

Light in Paintings

Dutch painters wanted their art to look very real. They became experts at showing how light worked. They paid close attention to how light reflected off different surfaces. Some artists even used tools like the camera obscura. This helped them create perfect perspective in their paintings.

Everyday Details

The invention of oil paints in the 1400s made it possible to add tiny details. Dutch genre paintings, like The Feast of Saint Nicholas, show this perfectly. For example, look at the bread basket in the front of the painting. You can see the woven pattern of the basket. You can also see the different crackers and nuts inside. Even the shiny coating on a bun and each tiny seed on it are clear. This shows Steen's skill with light and detail.

What the Painting Shows

A close-up of the painting, showing the youngest daughter with her doll.

This version of the painting, found in the Museum Catharijneconvent, shows a girl with a simple gingerbread.

The main focus of the painting is the youngest daughter. She looks like a "golden child" in her golden dress and with her blonde hair. She has been good all year. So, Saint Nicholas has rewarded her. Her shoe is filled with a doll and other treats. She carries them proudly in her bucket. The doll she holds looks like John the Baptist. It wears a camel hair shirt and holds a cross.

Next to her, her older brother is crying. Another brother is laughing at him. It seems the older brother was naughty. His shoe, held up by an older sister, is empty. But there might still be hope for him! In the background, almost hidden, his grandmother seems to be calling him. Maybe she has a secret gift for him behind the curtains.

In the back, a boy holds a younger child. He points to the chimney. This is where Saint Nicholas supposedly brought the gifts. Another brother is already singing a happy song. He is thankful for the gifts he received.

In the bottom right corner, there is a basket. It holds traditional holiday treats. These include honey cake, gingerbread, waffles, nuts, and apples. This part of the painting is like a small "still life" picture within the larger one. On the left side, you can see more holiday foods. An apple and a coin remind us of an old tradition. People used to give hidden apples and coins as gifts. A special diamond-shaped cake called a "duivekater" is leaning against the table. This cake also shows it's a special day.

The child near the chimney holds a gingerbread figure. It is shaped like Saint Nicholas. This type of gingerbread was popular around December 5th. However, in the 1600s, some people did not approve of baking figures of saints. In fact, in 1655, a rule was made in the city of Utrecht. It said that baking "likenesses in bread or cake" was not allowed.

Steen's Impact

Unlike other painters of his time, Jan Steen chose to show the messy, real side of family life. He painted the chaos and imperfections. This was his way of commenting on society. Through his realistic paintings, Steen showed the everyday problems and flaws of his time. He was a subtle critic. Jan Steen helped pave the way for later artists. For example, William Hogarth used painting to show satire in his Marriage A La Mode series.

See also

In Spanish: La fiesta de San Nicolás para niños