Artwork
John Thomlinson and His Family
John Thomlinson and His Family is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Arthur Devis. It dates from 1745 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
A man sits stiffly in a red chair. His wife stands beside him. Two small kids peek from behind the furniture. Everyone wears fancy clothes.
The painting shows a family portrait from 1745. Notice how the artist made the folds in the dresses look real. The gold frame matches the red chair.
This style was popular in England then. If you like this work, try Arthur Devis.
Overview
Painted in 1745, John Thomlinson and His Family is an oil-on-canvas portrait by Arthur Devis, exemplifying the Rococo style. The work depicts a domestic scene of the Thomlinson family in formal attire.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures John Thomlinson seated in a red chair, accompanied by his standing wife and two children partially hidden behind furniture, conveying a sense of familial unity within a refined, 18th-century English setting.
Technique & Style
Devis employed characteristic Rococo sensibilities, evident in the meticulous rendering of textile folds, particularly in the dresses. The composition's attention to detail and use of color (notably the red chair) reflect the style's emphasis on elegance and intimacy.
History & Provenance
Arthur Devis, an English portraitist trained under a Flemish artist in London, created this work during his successful period as a conversation-piece portraitist. The painting is now part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Context
This portrait is typical of 18th-century English Rococo, popular for its lighthearted, ornate, and socially conscious depictions of family life. Devis's work later waned in popularity as artistic trends shifted.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Devis (19 February 1712 – 25 July 1787) was an English painter whose father, Anthony, was progenitor of what became a family dynasty of painters and writers.
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