Artwork
Boy of the Beekman Family
Boy of the Beekman Family is an oil painting. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium and support common to early-eighteenth-century American portraiture, and measures approximately 130.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium and support common to early-eighteenth-century American portraiture, and measures approximately 130.8 by 103.6 centimetres. The handling is characteristic of the colonial limner tradition, with a relatively flat, linear treatment of form and a limited palette; the brushwork is tight and precise in the depiction of the boy's face and clothing, while the background is rendered more broadly. Stylistically the work reflects the formal, posed conventions of the period, emphasizing the sitter's status and likeness rather than naturalistic spatial depth or atmospheric effects.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1720 by an anonymous American artist. Its early provenance is recorded as originating from New York State. The work was owned by Helen Read, who sold it in 1954 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, and it later entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is held. No separate accession number is cited in the available records, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled Boy of the Beekman Family, presents a formal portrait of a young male figure. The artwork captures the likeness of a child from an earlier historical period, rendered with traditional oil paints. It offers a glimpse into the sartorial customs and portraiture conventions of its time, emphasizing the boy's presence through a carefully composed depiction.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait features a young boy adorned in attire characteristic of a past era, suggesting a formal sitting intended to commemorate his image. His pose is composed, and his expression conveys a quiet seriousness. This demeanor indicates the artist's intention to capture not only the sitter's physical appearance but also an aspect of his individual character, reflecting the historical context of the piece.
Artist & collection
