Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin: “Portrait of a Boy"

The elegant outfit of the boy reveals that he comes from a well-off family of French aristocrats. He was depicted by the painter in a bust-length portrait, using the three-quarter view, which was most commonly requested by rich customers at the time.

These are made from the same patterned fabric as the waistcoat hidden underneath the justaucorps. Underneath the waistcoat there is a white shirt, and he has a frilled ruffle over his chest and a white shawl tied around his neck, as was customary in the fashions of the time. 

The head of the boy is adorned by a powdered wig arranged with numerous ringlets and curls. The wig is a very distinctive feature of both male and female 18th-century outfits.

The boy is holding a triangular hat called a tricorno, typical of the 18th century, under his left armpit, and his elegant and dignified appearance is complemented by the blue fabric draped around his right arm and waist, like a decorative sash. 

“Portrait of a Boy” by Chardin is a masterful study of a rococo fashionable dresser, revealing outstanding craftsmanship on the part of the painter, as well as a great deal of sophistication in terms of color.