Wedding Dinner

Jacob van Hasselt painted this work to celebrate the marriage of his sister Grietje Hermans van Hasselt to Jochum Berntsen van Haecken in the Buurkerk in Utrecht on 15 May 1638. Van Hasselt painted himself standing behind the bride. Sumptuous pies and sweets suitable for this festive occasion are spread out on the table. The delicate salt cellar and elegant golden chalices ostentatiously held by two of the guests were likely made by two family members who were goldsmiths, Berent Janssen van Hasselt and Peter Jacobsz. van Hasselt.

Although the scene depicts a contemporary wedding, the bride and the groom, and a few of the guests, are dressed in antique robes and turbans. In addition, the groom wears a golden crown. He and his bride sit under a canopy supported by two antique-style columns. The painter thus conceived the scene as a portrait histori� (historical portrait).