Artwork
Portrait of a Child
Portrait of a Child is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Edward Hicks. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Edward Hicks created this oil portrait, titled Portrait of a Child, around 1840. Rendered on wood, the painting presents a young child dressed in a distinctive red garment and bonnet. The figure is positioned against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky, with their arms gently crossed. The work captures a formal yet intimate depiction of its youthful subject.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a young child, prominently featured in a vibrant red dress adorned with white lace trim and a matching bonnet tied with a green ribbon.
The central figure is a young child, prominently featured in a vibrant red dress adorned with white lace trim and a matching bonnet tied with a green ribbon. The meticulous detail in their clothing, combined with the composed posture of crossed arms, suggests a formal sitting. The natural setting of trees and an expansive sky provides a serene context for the child's elaborate attire, highlighting their individual presence.
Technique & Style
Executed with oil paints on a wood support, the artwork demonstrates a rich and vivid color scheme, particularly in the striking red of the child's dress. Hicks's careful attention to intricate details, such as the lace and ribbon, contributes to the painting's overall texture and visual appeal. This work exhibits characteristics often associated with the Romantic movement, which valued emotional expression and individual representation within art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Hicks spent his life caught between two worlds. A Quaker preacher by Sunday and a painter by weekdays, he painted signs and carriages to support his family while quietly building a body of peaceful, crowded…
