Who painted Group of Four Boys?

Group of Four Boys was painted by after Sir Anthony van Dyck in probably mid 17th century.

Where can I see Group of Four Boys?

Group of Four Boys is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Group of Four Boys?

Group of Four Boys is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Group of Four Boys

after Sir Anthony van Dyck , 1650

Group of Four Boys is an oil painting by the Baroque artist after Sir Anthony van Dyck. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

While the specific identities of the sitters remain undocumented, the composition functions as a formal representation of youth.

Classified as a group portrait, the work depicts four boys, a subject explicitly identified in catalogue records. While the specific identities of the sitters remain undocumented, the composition functions as a formal representation of youth. The painting's genre places it within the tradition of portraiture intended to capture the likeness and status of its subjects during the mid-seventeenth century. Although later associated with Sir Anthony van Dyck in some records, the artist remains officially unknown.

Technique & Style

Group of Four Boys is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a standard medium for 17th-century portraiture. The work measures 126.8 cm in height and 101 cm in width, presenting a group portrait format. While the artist remains unidentified, the piece is stylistically associated with Sir Anthony van Dyck, reflecting the formal conventions of the mid-17th century.

History & Provenance

Group of Four Boys is an oil on canvas probably dating to the mid-17th century. Its earliest documented owner was the Rev. Dr. William Ash of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, from whose collection it later passed into the art market. The work subsequently entered the holdings of the New York collector William R. Timken (1866–1949).

Upon his death, it passed by inheritance to his widow, Lillian Guyer Timken (1881–1959), also of New York. Lillian Timken bequeathed the painting to the National Gallery of Art in 1960, where it remains as accession 1960.1.4. Two prospectuses in NGA curatorial files carry expertises from Willem Valentiner dated 30 June 1914 and from Gabriel de Térey dated 12 February 1925; their format is consistent with documents supplied by Duveen Brothers, Inc., a firm from which the Timkens were actively acquiring during the 1920s.

Overview

The painting titled Group of Four Boys is an oil on canvas depicting four young males. Dressed in modest attire, they stand together, directly engaging the viewer with their gaze. This composition, featuring subjects looking straight out of the canvas, was an unconventional approach for its time, highlighting a distinct artistic choice in portraiture. The work offers a glimpse into the lives of its subjects through a focused and detailed presentation.