Artwork
Portraits of two Boys in a Landscape, one dressed as a Hunter, the other St as John the Baptist
Portraits of two Boys in a Landscape, one dressed as a Hunter, the other St as John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Douwe Juwes de Dowe. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The canvas presents a tranquil rural setting occupied by two young boys.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Together the figures embody a juxtaposition of secular and sacred virtues, reflecting 17th‑century Dutch concerns with character and piety.
The painting portrays two young boys within an outdoor setting, one clothed as a hunter and the other in the guise of John the Baptist, linking the work to biblical narrative and contemporary portraiture. The hunter's attire evokes themes of outdoor sport and moral allegory, while the figure of John the Baptist introduces a religious dimension, suggesting a meditation on innocence and spiritual preparation. Together the figures embody a juxtaposition of secular and sacred virtues, reflecting 17th‑century Dutch concerns with character and piety.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas created in 1647 by Dutch artist Douwe Juwes de Dowe, depicting two boys in a garden landscape where one appears as a hunter and the other in the guise of John the Baptist. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the composition combines portraiture with symbolic narrative, reflecting the stylistic conventions of mid-17th century Dutch painting. The piece demonstrates careful handling of light and spatial depth typical of the period, though specific details regarding its current condition are not provided in the source material.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Portraits of two Boys in a Landscape, one dressed as a Hunter, the other St as John the Baptist was executed in 1647 by the Dutch Golden Age artist Douwe Juwes de Dowe. Born in Leeuwarden in 1608, de Dowe was active as a portraitist in that city from 1623 until 1661. His artistic development was significantly shaped by the stained glass works of Dirck Reiniersz. van der Douw. While the specific commission details and subsequent ownership chain for this particular double portrait are not recorded in the available sources, the work falls squarely within the period of de Dowe's known professional activity prior to his death in 1662.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Douwe Juwes de Dowe (1608 – 1662) was a Dutch Golden Age painter from the Dutch Republic.
