The Twins Clara and Aelbert de Braij (de Bray)

The twins shown here were the children of the artist's nephew, the lawyer Simon de Braij (de Bray). The picture was probably painted to celebrate the babies' baptism. The lockets they both wear were traditionally given by the godparents. The cradle in the shape of a baroque shell may also be symbolic of baptism. Portraits of living babies (contrary to death portraits) were highly unusual in Dutch seventeenth-century painting.

Credit: Private Collection on long term loan to the National Galleries of Scotland,1995