Portrait Group on a Terrace of a Park 1722

Ignatius van der Beken painted this group portrait on canvas in the 18th century. It presents a large family gathered on the terrace of a park. The composition speaks to the social structure of its time. Note the strict hierarchy, with the presumed patriarch seated centrally and the other family members arranged around him according to their status. Van der Beken's piece reflects the self-assured worldview of the affluent class in Northern Europe. They saw themselves as figures of refinement and order, in contrast to the natural world. The formality of the composition and the detailed rendering of clothing and setting serve to reinforce this sense of control and status. To fully understand this painting, one must look into the social and economic conditions of 18th-century Europe. Contemporary accounts, estate records, and genealogical studies can provide a clearer picture of the sitters’ lives and their place in the social order.