扬·斯蒂恩 (Jan Steen) 的《圣尼古拉节》(荷兰語: Het Sint Nicolaasfeest)

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荷兰黄金时代画家 扬·斯蒂恩 (Jan Steen) 的作品《圣尼古拉节》(荷兰語: Het Sint Nicolaasfeest)  1665 年 ~ 1668 年, 收藏于 阿姆斯特丹国家博物馆 (荷兰語: Het Rijksmuseum Amsterdam)

Jan Havickszoon Steen (c. 1626 – buried February 3, 1679) was a Dutch genre painter of the 17th century (also known as the Dutch Golden Age). Psychological insight, sense of humour and abundance of colour are marks of his trade. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Steen)

荷兰朋友自制片用阿姆斯特丹国家博物馆现代明信片。

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The Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dutch: Het Sint Nicolaasfeest, c. 1665–1668), is a painting by Dutch master Jan Steen, which can now be found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It measures 82 x 70.5 cm. The picture, painted in the chaotic Jan Steen "style," depicts a family at home on December 5, the night celebrated in the Netherlands as the Feast of Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas.
The focal point of the painting is the youngest daughter of the family, a golden-child, painted, in fact, in a golden smock and showing golden locks. She has behaved all year, and Saint Nicholas has rewarded her by stuffing her shoe with a doll and other treats, which she carries in her bucket. She is in stark contrast to her elder brother, standing to her right, who is sobbing, while another brother looks on, laughing. Apparently, the elder brother has been naughty, and his shoe, held up by an elder sister behind him, was left empty. Still there is hope for the sobbing boy. Hidden in the background, almost obscured by the draperies, his grandmother seems to beckon to him—perhaps she is hiding a gift for him too, behind the heavy curtains. While the mother attempts to coax the golden girl to show her the gifts she received, the father, seated in the center of the painting, seems to smile as he remembers his own childhood on this festive night. Further to the right a child can be seen holding a baby and pointing up the chimney, while a younger child looks on in amazement, as he has probably just been told that this was Sinterklaas' method of gaining entry to the house. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Feast_of_Saint_Nicholas)

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In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' Eve (5 December) is the chief occasion for gift-giving during the Christmas season.  The evening is called "sinterklaasavond" or "pakjesavond" ("presents evening").  During the Reformation in 16th-17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the date of giving gifts from December 5 or 6th to Christmas Eve. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas)