RKD STUDIES

After his return to Dordrecht, Van Hoogstraten became a settled citizen in every sense of the word. In 1656, he became a member of the Broederschap der Romeynen (Brotherhood of the Romans), a society of people who had visited Rome. A year later, he painted a group portrait of the members of this society, in which he depicted both himself and the aforementioned Roeland de Carpentier (1620-1670).¹ In 1656, Van Hoogstraten was appointed Master minter at the Mint of Holland in Dordrecht, a distinguished position which came with tax benefits. He also painted a group portrait of the Master minters, including himself. In 1674, he painted a second portrait of the Master minters, this time with himself in the foreground carrying the medallion of honour on a chain over his shoulder [9].

Van Hoogstraten’s position at the Mint required him to be married. In the year of his appointment, he married Sara Balen, the daughter of a Mennonite silk merchant. She, apparently, had left or had been forced to leave the Mennonite Church, because Van Hoogstraten was expelled from the Mennonite community for marrying ‘a woman outside the community’ and also for ‘carrying on in various ways’.² Anyone visiting the (childless) couple immediately came face to face with a large double portrait of them, painted by Van Hoogstraten in 1657. Unfortunately, this painting has not survived.³

9
and Anthony Vreem Samuel van Hoogstraten
Members of the Serment of the Dutch Mint in Dordrecht, dated 1674
Dordrecht, Dordrechts Museum, inv./cat.nr. DM/903/464