Saartje Jans is Asked for her Hand in Marriage

Before becoming a painter, the Amsterdam-based Troost worked as an actor for a number of years. He painted many scenes from farcical plays, including the immensely popular “Jan Claasz or the Supposed Servant Girl”. The Mauritshuis owns three pastels depicting scenes from this work.

Here we see Jan Jasperzen (on the left, wearing a grey wig) and his wife Dieuwertje receiving a visit from two straight-laced gentlemen whose appearance is decidedly old-fashioned. The men have called in on behalf of Reinier Adriaansz to ask for the hand in marriage of Jan and Dieuwertje’s daughter, Saartje Jans. Saartje is secretly listening in – she has very different plans.