Who painted Portrait of a boy?

Portrait of a boy was painted by Antoine Pesne in 1737.

Where can I see Portrait of a boy?

Portrait of a boy is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of a boy?

Portrait of a boy is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a boy

Antoine Pesne , 1737

Portrait of a boy is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Antoine Pesne. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Antoine Pesne’s oil portrait, dated 1737, presents a young boy in a richly detailed costume. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it is displayed among the museum’s 18th‑century European paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is a child with tightly curled white hair, clothed in a white coat trimmed with silver buttons, a red cape, a blue bow tie, and a white lace collar. He holds a spotted black‑and‑white dog in his right hand, a motif that may symbolize loyalty or companionship, while the gentle landscape behind him adds a calm, pastoral atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Pesne employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using contrasts of light and shadow to give the boy’s face and garments a three‑dimensional presence. The delicate rendering of the fur and the subtle background foliage demonstrate the painter’s skill in creating texture and depth within a relatively restrained composition.

History & Provenance

Created in the early reign of Frederick William I, the portrait entered the National Museum’s holdings in the 20th century, though its earlier ownership remains undocumented. Its presence in Warsaw reflects the broader movement of German‑court portraiture into Central European collections during the post‑World War II redistribution of artworks.