Artwork
The red coat
The red coat is an oil painting by Henri de Braekeleer. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Henri de Braekeleer’s *The Red Coat*, executed in oil around 1874, is part of the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. The work presents a single, vividly coloured red coat with gold trim, positioned on a table or chair against a deep, muted background. The composition isolates the garment, drawing the viewer’s attention to its materiality and colour.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on the coat itself, rendered as an object of quiet presence rather than a narrative scene. By isolating the garment, de Braekeleer invites contemplation of everyday material culture, suggesting themes of domestic stillness and the fleeting nature of clothing as a marker of personal identity.
Technique & Style
De Braekeleer employs a realistic approach, meticulously depicting the texture of the fabric, the subtle folds, and the reflective quality of the gold buttons. A strong chiaroscuro contrast—dark, enveloping shadows behind the coat and a focused light on its surface—enhances the three‑dimensional effect and emphasizes the richness of the red hue.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s collection, where it remains on display.
Born in Antwerp in 1840, de Braekeleer studied under his father Ferdinand and the genre painter Jan August Hendrik Leys before attending the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. After early exhibitions beginning in 1858 and study trips to Germany and the Netherlands, he produced *The Red Coat* during a period when interior genre scenes dominated his output. The work entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s collection, where it remains on display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Jean Augustin de Braekeleer (11 June 1840 – 20 July 1888) was a Belgian painter.
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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