Artwork
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan de Bray. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
Jan de Bray, a Haarlem‑based painter of the Dutch Golden Age, executed *Portrait of a Boy* in 1663 with oil on canvas. The work now belongs to the Scottish National Gallery’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s skill in rendering youthful subjects with subtle lighting.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a young boy, his brown hair cut to the shoulders, dressed in a brown jacket trimmed with a white collar. He looks to the right with a neutral expression, his face illuminated against a dark backdrop, suggesting an intimate, contemplative portrayal rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
De Bray employs chiaroscuro to model the boy’s features, allowing light to emerge from the left and create depth across the figure. The handling of texture in the fabric and the soft gradations of tone reflect the influence of contemporaries such as Frans Hals, while retaining the artist’s own restrained palette.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of de Bray’s career, the painting reflects his practice of portraying family members and acquaintances. It entered the Scottish National Gallery’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of Dutch 17th‑century portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan de Bray (c. 1627 – April 4, 1697) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He lived and worked in Haarlem until the age of 60, when he went bankrupt and moved to Amsterdam. Jan de Bray was influenced by his father Salomon…
Portrait of the Artist's Parents, Salomon de Bray and Anna Westerbaen
Abraham Casteleyn and his Wife, Margarieta van Bancken
Head of a Young Boy
The governors of the guild of St. Luke, Haarlem, 1675
Allegorical Family Portrait
Judith en Holofernes
Portrait of a Boy holding a Basket of Fruit
Portrait of a woman
