Portrait of Kennett Dixon playing shuttlecock
1750
unspecified
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a boy in fancy 18th-century clothes, standing outside with a big wig and a ruffled shirt. He’s holding a red shuttlecock in one hand and a hand mirror in the other, while tossing a feathered shuttlecock with his other hand. Behind him, a soft landscape with trees and a river stretches out, painted in muted blues and greens. The boy’s pose looks playful, almost like he’s caught mid-motion. His black coat and white stockings stand out against the natural background, making him the clear focus. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in paintings like this.
