Artwork
Portrait of a Child
Portrait of a Child is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume, adds depth to the painting.
This painting depicts a young boy dressed in a black tunic and hat, with his left hand resting on a chair. The boy's face is turned to the left, and his expression is neutral. The background of the painting is a muted brown color.
The boy's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it may be from the 19th century. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume, adds depth to the painting.
If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to explore the work of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot, the artist who created this piece.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a young boy, identified simply as a child subject within the genre of portraiture. Created by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot in 1835, the painting presents a straightforward representation of youth without explicit allegorical or complex symbolic layers noted in the available records. As a portrait, its primary meaning lies in the direct visual documentation of the sitter's likeness and presence.
The composition focuses on capturing the individual characteristics of the boy, rendered in oil paint on panel. While the specific identity of the child is not detailed in the provided sources, the artwork serves as a historical record of a single male figure from the mid-1830s, emphasizing the artist's engagement with human subjects during this period.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, a technique documented for this Corot portrait. It measures roughly 32.1 cm in height by 23.5 cm in width and was completed in 1835, placing it among the artist’s early portrait commissions. The medium is listed as oil paint, and the piece belongs to the portrait genre, depicting a young boy in a straightforward, naturalistic manner typical of Corot’s approach to characterization.
The painting entered the collection of Louisine Havemeyer and is presently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Child is an oil-on-panel work by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot dated to 1835, with no documented commission or creation circumstances recorded in the available sources. The painting subsequently entered the collection of Louisine Havemeyer, who is identified as a former owner. It is now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, indicating a transfer from the Havemeyer holdings into the museum's collection, though the specific date and terms of that acquisition are not detailed in the consulted records.
Portrait of a Child, an 1835 oil-on-panel work by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting was formerly owned by Louisine Havemeyer before entering the museum's holdings. Its modest panel dimensions, 32.1 by 23.5 centimeters, are consistent with Corot's intimate portrait practice of the period. The sources do not specify an accession number or document any exhibition history for the work.
Overview
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, a French artist recognized for his landscapes and portraits, completed Portrait of a Child in 1835. This oil painting captures the likeness of a young boy, illustrating Corot's distinctive approach to the genre. The work is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a moment where the artist engaged with both established artistic conventions and innovative techniques.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (UK: KORR-oh, US: kə-ROH, kor-OH; French:; 16 July 1796 – 22 February 1875), or simply Camille Corot, was a French landscape and portrait painter as well as a printmaker in etching.
