Who painted Portrait of a Boy?

Portrait of a Boy was painted by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1637.

Where can I see Portrait of a Boy?

Portrait of a Boy is held by Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

What movement is Portrait of a Boy?

Portrait of a Boy is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a Boy

Jacob Adriaensz Backer , 1637

Portrait of a Boy is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Adriaensz Backer. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1637, the oil painting titled *Portrait of a Boy* is attributed to Jacob Adriaensz Backer, a Dutch artist active during the early to mid‑17th century. The work presents a solitary child, rendered with a restrained palette and a dark, unadorned backdrop that isolates the figure. It is currently housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a young boy with light brown hair, his expression solemn and his gaze directed outward. He wears a dark red garment edged in gold, complemented by a crisp white collar. The simplicity of the setting and the dignified pose suggest an intention to convey status or virtue rather than narrative action.

Technique & Style

Backer employs a subtle chiaroscuro, lighting the boy’s face from one side so that one cheek is illuminated while the other recedes into shadow. The brushwork is refined, especially in the rendering of flesh tones and the texture of the fabric, reflecting the polished portraiture typical of the Dutch Golden Age.

History & Provenance

Backer, who produced roughly 140 works over a two‑decade career centered in Amsterdam, was influenced by artists such as Wybrand de Geest, Peter Paul Rubens, and Abraham Bloemaert. *Portrait of a Boy* entered the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains part of the museum’s permanent holdings.

Context

The painting exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s focus on individual representation and meticulous detail. While Backer is known for a range of subjects—including religious and mythological scenes—his portraiture often mirrors the era’s preference for sober elegance and precise rendering of texture and light.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Adriaensz Backer

Jacob Adriaensz Backer (1608 – 27 August 1651) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He produced about 140 paintings in twenty years, including portraits, religious subjects, and mythological paintings. In his style, he was…