In Jacob Jansz’s painting circa fifteen hundred, a family is seated at table on which are breads, a jug and something that could be cheese. It looks as though the wife is wearing her best clothes— a dress of red brocade, a matching shawl and a fancy cap with trimmings of gold braid. The child on her lap is pale with an old head on his shoulders. He looks as though he needs some feeding up—perhaps whatever his mother is spooning from a cup. The husband is bearded and solemn, plainly but carefully dressed and gravely intent on slicing a…