Portrait of Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687) and his Five Children

Huygens was an important figure in Dutch political and cultural circles, and friends with Johan Maurits. But he was also father to five children, whom he is shown with here. Huygens’s wife is missing – she died shortly after the birth of young Susanna. The young boy top right is Christiaan, who would later become world-famous as a physicist.

Hanneman often made portraits of members of the House of Orange and their circle. He made this portrait of Huygens and his children for the latter’s house on the Plein, next to the Mauritshuis.