Artwork
Boy playing a violin
Boy playing a violin is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Frans Hals. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a genre scene created in Haarlem, the painting captures a moment of musical engagement, focusing on the interaction between the child and the instrument.
The work depicts a young boy holding a violin, a subject categorized within the genre of genre art. The figure is identified as Frans Hals Junior, suggesting a potential family connection or a specific portrait of the artist's child rather than a purely anonymous model. As a genre scene created in Haarlem, the painting captures a moment of musical engagement, focusing on the interaction between the child and the instrument. The composition emphasizes the boy and the violin as the central elements of the visual narrative.
Technique & Style
Created in 1628, this work is an oil painting executed on a panel support. The piece measures 18.4 cm in height and 18.8 cm in width, classifying it as a small-scale genre scene. Stylistically, it depicts a boy playing a violin, a subject often associated with the artist's son, Frans Hals Junior.
The composition captures a moment of musical performance, reflecting the artist's focus on everyday life and individual character within the genre art tradition.
History & Provenance
Frans Hals executed Boy playing a violin in 1628 in Haarlem. The work is an oil painting on panel depicting a young musician. Historical ownership records indicate the piece was held by Petrus Scriverius and Willem Schrijver.
In more recent history, the painting belonged to the collector Charles Yerkes and subsequently to Emilie Grigsby. The work also passed through the hands of the dealer Lawrie & Co. At various points, the painting has been associated with the collections of the Frans Hals Museum, the Mauritshuis, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Context
The painting depicts a young boy holding a violin, attributed to Frans Hals and dated 1628. It is an oil on panel work showing Frans Hals Junior and classified as a genre scene. The artwork has been part of collections including those of Charles Yerkes and Emilie Grigsby before entering the holdings of institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Mauritshuis.
Its provenance and exhibition history reflect its significance within Dutch Golden Age painting and the artist's broader body of work.
Overview
Boy playing a violin is a 1628 oil painting by Frans Hals the Elder, a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age. The work is a genre scene, depicting a young boy engaged in music, and is part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.
Legacy
As part of Hals' oeuvre, Boy playing a violin contributes to the artist's reputation for capturing the essence of his subjects through nuanced, expressive works. Its presence in a major museum collection ensures ongoing study and appreciation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Hals the Elder (UK: US:; Dutch:; c. 1582 – 26 August 1666) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He lived and worked in Haarlem, a city in which the local authority of the day frowned on religious painting in places of…
