The schoolmaster and his pupils

The subject, which gained prominence thanks to the Haarlem painters Jan Miense Molenaer (c. 1610-1668), and Adriaen (1610-1685) and Isack van Ostade (1621-1649), can be traced back to sixteenthcentury Flemish prints. Verelst painted peasant interiors in the manner of Van Ostade, Rembrandtlike history paintings and tronies, and genre scenes reminiscent of Gerrit Dou. This schoolroom scene is an excellent example of the latter.