# Thomas Hees and his Servant Thomas and Nephews Jan and Andries Hees

- By: Michiel van Musscher (Rotterdam, 1645–1705)
- Date: 1687
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 76 cm x width 63 cm
- Credit line: On loan from the Koninklijk Kabinet van Schilderijen Mauritshuis
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-C-1215--e4c75eab0bc9bc60411bd4e373eb6a39)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/fVXPc/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Thomas Hees worked as a diplomat in Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli (shown on the map in the book). There, he negotiated the release of Dutch sailors who had been conscripted as slaves. At the same time, he bought the African young man standing behind him, Thomas. He is 17, shoeless, and has an iron band around his neck: a reference to slavery and ownership.