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Portrait of a Boy holding a Basket of Fruit
Jan de Bray (Dutch, 1627–1697)
1658
Medium/Technique
Oil on panel
Dimensions
67.9 x 56 cm (26 3/4 x 22 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Charles H. Bayley Picture and Painting Fund and other funds
Accession Number1992.475
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsPaintings
Modestly sized, scrupulously realistic portraits were in high demand by prosperous 17th-century Dutchmen. De Bray, who was probably taught by his father, made a specialty of such images. This appealing portrait is notable for its remarkable rendering of contrasting materials and textures and its unusual inclusion of a carefully painted still life. The ivy, known for its tendency to overrun other plants, and fruit, which is only obtained through diligent cultivation, may here symbolize a poor and good upbringing, respectively.
InscriptionsSigned and dated: JBray 1658
ProvenanceBy 1783, George Nugent-Temple-Grenville (b. 1753 - d. 1813), 1st Marquess of Buckingham, Stowe House, near Buckingham, England [see note 1]; by descent to his grandson, Richard Temple Grenville (b. 1797 - d. 1861), 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Duke of Chandos, Stowe House; September 13, 1848, Duke of Buckingham sale, Christie and Manson, London, lot 167, to Ryman for £42 [see note 2]; remained within the Grenville family [see note 3] and passed by descent to Mary Temple-Gore-Langton (b. 1852 - d. 1944), Baroness Kinloss, Stowe House; July 4-28, 1921, Baroness Kinloss sale, Jackson-Stops, London, lot 1636, sold to Harry Shaw, Beenham Court, Newbury [see note 4]; October 11, 1922, Shaw and Stowe House sale, Beenham Court, lot 205 [see note 5]. 1929, John Glen, London [see note 6]. 1937, William F. Kenny (b. 1868 - d. 1951), New York; April 3, 1937, Kenny sale, Plaza Art Auction Galleries, New York, lot 30, sold for $2500. 1937, Firma D. Katz, Dieren, The Netherlands. 1939, Dr. C.J.K. van Aalst (b. 1868 - d. 1939), Hoevelaken, The Netherlands [see note 7]; by descent within the family to Mrs. P. van Aalst, Hoevelaken; November 14, 1990, Mrs. van Aalst sale, Sotheby's, Amsterdam, lot 69, to Kunsthandel K. & V. Waterman, Amsterdam; 1990, sold by Waterman to Otto Naumann, Ltd., New York; 1992, sold by Naumann to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 23, 1992)
NOTES:
[1] The provenance information was provided by Otto Naumann, Ltd., at the time of the painting's acquisition. That it was at Stowe House by 1783 is said to be recorded in the Stowe guidebook of that year.
[2] Attributed in the catalogue to Francisco Milé.
[3] At the 1848 sale, members of the family bought back a number of their own possessions. It is not known who "Ryman" is, but for years after the auction, Richard Temple-Grenville's son, the Marquess of Chandos, continued to buy back items that had previously been sold.
[4] Described in the catalogue as a "1/2-length picture of Egg Seller" by a 16th century Flemish artist.
[5] In 1921, property developer Harry Shaw purchased the Stowe estate with the intention of donating the property to the nation. However, being unable to do so, he sold the estate again in 1922. The auction of October 11, 1922 included the "remaining portions of the estate" of the Duke of Buckingham and Stowe House. This painting is attributed in the catalogue to an unknown artist.
[6] He lent the painting to the "Exhibition of Dutch Art 1450-1900" (Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1929), cat. no. 366.
[7] W. R. Valentiner and J. W. von Moltke, "Dutch and Flemish Old Masters in the Collection of Dr. C. J. K. van Aalst" (1939), p. 86, pl. XX.
NOTES:
[1] The provenance information was provided by Otto Naumann, Ltd., at the time of the painting's acquisition. That it was at Stowe House by 1783 is said to be recorded in the Stowe guidebook of that year.
[2] Attributed in the catalogue to Francisco Milé.
[3] At the 1848 sale, members of the family bought back a number of their own possessions. It is not known who "Ryman" is, but for years after the auction, Richard Temple-Grenville's son, the Marquess of Chandos, continued to buy back items that had previously been sold.
[4] Described in the catalogue as a "1/2-length picture of Egg Seller" by a 16th century Flemish artist.
[5] In 1921, property developer Harry Shaw purchased the Stowe estate with the intention of donating the property to the nation. However, being unable to do so, he sold the estate again in 1922. The auction of October 11, 1922 included the "remaining portions of the estate" of the Duke of Buckingham and Stowe House. This painting is attributed in the catalogue to an unknown artist.
[6] He lent the painting to the "Exhibition of Dutch Art 1450-1900" (Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1929), cat. no. 366.
[7] W. R. Valentiner and J. W. von Moltke, "Dutch and Flemish Old Masters in the Collection of Dr. C. J. K. van Aalst" (1939), p. 86, pl. XX.