Who painted Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock?

Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock?

Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock

Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1750, this portrait depicts a young boy in elaborate eighteenth‑century attire, captured in a moment of play.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1750, this portrait depicts a young boy in elaborate eighteenth‑century attire, captured in a moment of play. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and is attributed to the artist recorded as 38519_person.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is dressed in a black coat, white stockings, a large wig, and a ruffled shirt, holding a red shuttlecock and a hand‑mirror while tossing a feathered shuttlecock. The composition suggests a lighthearted, perhaps instructional scene, emphasizing leisure and the fashionable pursuits of youth in the period.

Technique & Style

The painter employs chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the boy’s form and to separate him from the muted blues and greens of the distant landscape. The soft rendering of trees and a river behind the figure creates depth and a sense of atmospheric perspective.

History & Provenance

The portrait entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Its dating to the mid‑eighteenth century is based on stylistic analysis of costume and technique.

Context

During the mid‑1700s, portraiture often combined individual likeness with genre elements, reflecting both personal identity and contemporary pastimes. The inclusion of a shuttlecock—a popular game of the era—places the work within broader social customs of recreation among the gentry.