with his five children Constantijn II (t.l.; 1628-1697), Christiaan (t.r.; 1629-1695), Lodewijk (b.r.; 1631-1699), Philips (b.l.;1633-1699) and Suzanne (t.c.; 1637-1725). Description at Maurithuis: Constantijn Huygens is portrayed in the middle of this painting, encircled by his five children. Huygens became famous as a man of letters and was secretary to three consecutive stadholders, Frederik Hendrik, William II and William III. His house faced the Mauritshuis in The Hague, and was likewise built in a Dutch classicising style. Huygens had this family portrait made by the Hague painter Adriaen Hanneman for his urban palace, where it was displayed as an overmantel.

From left below, clockwise, we see the portraits of: Lodewijk (nine years old), who became bailiff of the city of Gorinchem in 1672 and subsequently married Jacomina Teding van Berkhout; Constantijn Junior (twelve years old) who became secretary to Prince William III and married Suzanna Ryckaert in 1672; Suzanna (three years old), she was Huygens’ only daughter, she married her cousin Philips Doublet in 1660; Christiaan (eleven years old), he would become world famous as the inventor of the pendulum clock and discoverer of the ring around Saturn; and Philips (seven years old), the youngest son, who died at a young age while on a diplomatic mission to Sweden and Poland.