Portrait of a Young Child

Maker Mary Beale (British, 1632-1699)

Collections

British Paintings

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Dateca. 1660-1663

Mediumoil on paper laid on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 13 1/16 × 11 1/4 in. (33.1 × 28.6 cm.) frame: 16 1/2 × 14 3/4 × 1 in. (41.9 × 37.5 × 2.5 cm.)

DescriptionBorn in Suffolk, Mary Beale, nee Cradock, was the most important woman artist to work in England in the second half of the seventeenth century. In 1651 she married Charles Beale, who shared her interest in art, serving as her assistant in later years and also producing pigments for sale to other painters. Her artistic skills were greatly admired by her contemporaries. It is not known with whom she studied; however, her father was an amateur artist and the Beales were good friends of Sir Peter Lely, the leading artist of the Restoration. Although Lely encouraged Mary Beale in her efforts and she occasionally adapted his poses to commissioned portraits, there is no evidence that he actually instructed her. Technically accomplished, her paintings are noteworthy for their honest and sympathetic portrayal. Portrait of a Young Child came to light recently in Vienna; it is from the early phase of Beale's career, when she and her young family were living in London. The sitter is not known, but it has been suggested that it could be one of her young sons, Bartholomew or Charles. Certainly there is a family resemblance, but more importantly, because of its affectionate informality, the work seems to be a portrait of someone close to the artist. Painted on paper applied to canvas, the painting is in good condition with only minor restoration. It is housed in a reproduction frame appropriate to the period.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Purchased with funds from Lois and Robert Erburu, Geneva and Charles Thornton Jr., Betty and Brack Duker, Heather and Paul Haaga Jr., Nancy and Charles Munger, Anne and James Rothenberg, Billie and Gene Yeager, and Deborah and Robert Wycoff

Status

Not on view

Object number2000.14