17th Century English School - A Boy With Yellow Dressings

Fine 17th century English school portrait of a young boy with yellow silk drapery.

The handsome sitter is depicted half length within a feigned laurel cartouche his head half turned with his gaze meeting the viewer. With his pale skin, languid  eyes full flushed cheeks and fleshy lips he is the very definition of mid 17th century beauty.

His blonde hair is worn shoulder length with a centre parting which curves away from each side of the crown, leaves his brows and cheeks clearly visible. Rather than wearing the contemporary fashions (dress) of the period the handsome young sitter wears a more generalised form of drapery (costume) which was popular in paintings from the 1650’s onwards.

The sitters white shirt, with its sleeves that balloon at the wrist, may echo contemporary fashions but his golden belted sash implies that the sitter is in fact wearing a tunic akin to Perisan dress. His voluminous shimmering yellow silk cloak / fabric is clearly more akin to costume and the timlessness of the hand gesture which he uses to secure it across his chest which adds a sense of gravitas reminiscent of Roman dress.

This pose can be traced back to the work of Van Dyck, whose series of prints Icones Principum Virorumwould have been widely admired and circulated. It makes sense that an artist in the orbit of Van Dyck, favours a similar aesthetic of dramatic draperies and ‘costume’ rather than fashion.

This fine quality and richly coloured portrait is in an excellent state of conservation. It is ready to hang in a later quality ‘Lely’ style gilded frame.

Higher resolution images on request.   Worldwide shipping available.

I am most grateful to Jacqui Ansell Costume Historian and formerly Senior Lecturer, Christie’s Education for the detailed information and analysis that she has provided on fashion and costume.

Higher resolution images on request.                                                  
Worldwide shipping available.

Provenance: Private collection Belgium.

Canvas: 70cm x 65cm. Framed: 86cm x 74cm.