Who painted Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle?

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle was painted by Cornelis de Vos in 1650.

Where can I see Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle?

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle?

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle

Cornelis de Vos , 1650

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Cornelis de Vos. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.

About this work

Overview

Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle is an oil painting created by Cornelis de Vos around 1650. It belongs to his notable series of sensitive child and family portraits, characteristic of his work as a prominent Flemish Baroque portrait painter in Antwerp.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a young child dressed in a white, lace-trimmed dress with pink bows and a gold chain and cross, set against a dark red background. The child holds a small, drum-like rattle, a common motif in 17th-century portraiture symbolizing innocence and playfulness. The child's serious, steady gaze adds depth to the otherwise youthful subject.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Flemish Baroque style, the painting features smooth brushwork and soft, nuanced shadows on the subject's face, exemplifying de Vos's mastery of chiaroscuro, a technique emphasizing contrast between light and dark to create volume and depth.

History & Provenance

Cornelis de Vos, also a successful art dealer, occasionally collaborated with the renowned Peter Paul Rubens. *Portrait of a Child holding a Rattle* is currently part of the Ashmolean Museum's collection.