Artwork
Portrait of a Boy in Gray
Portrait of a Boy in Gray is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Adriaensz Backer. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
Overview
The Portrait of a Boy in Gray is a 1634 oil painting by Jacob Adriaensz Backer, a Dutch painter known for his portraits and other works.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a young boy in formal attire, with a gray outfit and white ruffled collar, gazing directly at the viewer with a serious expression. His pose, with hand on hip, adds to the portrait's formality.
Technique & Style
Backer's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, with light and shadow defining the boy's features and surroundings. The dark background enhances the subject's three-dimensionality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1634, the painting is now part of the Mauritshuis collection. Backer's work was influenced by artists such as Wybrand de Geest, Rubens, and Abraham Bloemaert.
Artist & collection
Artist
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…
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