Portrait of Elizabeth and Philadelphia Wharton

The work titled Portrait of Elizabeth and Philadelphia Wharton was painted by Anthony van Dyck in 1640 in Flanders. It portrays Elizabeth Wharton and her sister Philadelphia Wharton, daughters of the prominent colonial figure Robert Wharton. The painting entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on view.

The commission likely arose from the Wharton family’s social connections in the mid‑17th century, though specific patronage records are not extant. The work measures 162 cm by 130 cm and was created on canvas using oil paint. Its creation date aligns with van Dyck’s early English period, shortly after his arrival in London.

The painting Portrait of Elizabeth and Philadelphia Wharton by Anthony van Dyck is held in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, under inventory number 1835. It was created in 1640 in Flanders as an oil on canvas portrait. The work has been part of the Hermitage Museum's collection since its acquisition and has not been documented in major traveling exhibitions according to the provided records.

Anthony van Dyck’s 1640 oil painting presents two young sisters, Elizabeth and Philadelphia Wharton, standing before a plain dark backdrop. The composition is intimate, with the children positioned side by side, a small dog at their feet, and subtle gestures that link them visually. The work now belongs to the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.

Created during van Dyck’s mature period, the work reflects the Flemish Baroque tradition he inherited from Rubens, yet it also anticipates the more refined portraiture that would dominate English court art. The painting illustrates the era’s emphasis on lineage, status, and the subtle display of wealth through clothing and accessories.