Timothy and Lois
- Catalog
- WD-003
- Artist
- Willem Drost
- Year
- c. 1650s
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 117 × 89 cm
- Location
- Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
Description
Depicting the biblical scene of Timothy with his grandmother Lois (also known as "The Prophetess Anna Instructing a Child"). The intergenerational relationship is rendered with sensitivity and warmth. For two centuries this was considered one of the Hermitage's best Rembrandts.
Analysis
The painting showcases Drost's ability to convey narrative through gesture and expression. The elderly Lois instructs young Timothy, their hands carefully positioned to emphasize the passing of knowledge. The warm palette and soft modelling reflect Rembrandt's influence. Drost's authorship was first proposed in 1924 by G. Falck and has since been accepted by most scholars. At 117 × 89 cm, it is one of Drost's larger compositions.
Historical Context
Painted in the early 1650s as the First Anglo-Dutch War raged at sea (May 1652–April 1654). The conflict disrupted trade but did little to slow artistic production in Amsterdam. Rembrandt was struggling financially, borrowing money from friends and patrons including Jan Six and Cornelis Witsen. The Dutch Republic's population was the most literate and urbanized in Europe, with a prosperous middle class that fueled demand for paintings. Amsterdam remained Europe's financial center, with the Wisselbank (Exchange Bank) managing deposits exceeding 16 million guilders.