1600 – 1699

Trained Goats in 17th Century Portraiture

With all the work that goes into training and conditioning driving goats, the effort that has to be made, during the process, to understand just how they think, and all the time spent with them, they quickly start to feel like members of the family. It’s not a new phenomenon, and quite a few 17th century portraits include the family goat, posed in a prominent place, indicating his or her importance, or surrounded by adoring children. Here are a few charming examples. Each painting has more information in the caption.

1623-1625

A Dutch Family Goat Cart

Portraits of the Van Campen family, painted by Frans Hals in around 1623. Below is a reconstruction, as the original has been divided into three pieces.

1620-1630

A Family Goat in the Netherlands

Group portrait of three generations of a family in the grounds of a country house (oil on canvas) by Santvoort, Dirck (1610-80); Johnny van Haeften Gallery, London, UK; Dutch.

1625-1635

Siblings Driving in the Netherlands

Portrait of the Artists Family (oil on canvas) by Cuyp, Jacob Gerritsz (1594-1651); Currently in the Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lille, France; Dutch,

1640-1650

A Bridled Goat in the Netherlands

“Portrait of a Boy with a Goat” Attributed to manner of Rootius, Jan Albertsz. (Dutch painter, ca. 1615-1674); Previously attributed to Dutch School. Currently in the collection of the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle.

1646

Portrait With a Bridled Goat

Unknown boy, holding the reins of a bridled goat.

1647

A Bridled and Bitted Dutch Goat

Portrait of unknown child with a buck, painted in oil on a panel, by Jan Albertsz Rotius. Currently in the collection of the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History.