Artwork
Portrait of a Six-year-old Boy
Portrait of a Six-year-old Boy is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan de Bray. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
Overview
Jan de Bray, a Haarlem‑based painter of the Dutch Golden Age, completed this oil portrait in 1654. The work depicts a young boy, approximately six years old, set against a darkened backdrop that isolates the figure. It is part of the Mauritshuis collection, representing the period’s focus on detailed, individualized portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is a fair‑skinned child with light‑brown hair, dressed in a dark jacket over a white, collared shirt. He rests his right hand on his hip while holding a small, brightly coloured object in his left. His neutral expression and direct gaze engage the viewer, suggesting a straightforward, almost documentary approach to childhood representation.
Technique & Style
De Bray employs chiaroscuro to model the boy’s face and hands, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to create a three‑dimensional effect. The dark background amplifies the illuminated figure, while the fine brushwork on the fabric and skin conveys realism. This handling reflects the artist’s blend of portraiture with the compositional gravitas typical of historical painting.
History & Provenance
Created during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the portrait exemplifies de Bray’s practice of portraying contemporary individuals with the dignity of historical subjects, a method known as portrait historié. After remaining in private hands for centuries, the painting entered the Mauritshuis collection, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch 17th‑century holdings.
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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…
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