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Sir Anthony van Dyck (artist) Flemish, 1599 - 1641 A Genoese Noblewoman and Her Son, c. 1626 oil on canvas overall: 191.5 x 139.5 cm (75 3/8 x 54 15/16 in.) Widener Collection 1942.9.91 |
Object 9 of 15
A Genoese Noblewoman and Her Son exemplifies Van Dyck's innovative designs. The majestic figures of mother and child are isolated by the artist's use of architectural forms. The woman, seen in impersonal profile, sits in a darkened portico, while the boy directly confronts the viewer from his position in front of a vast sky -- possibly implying his destiny to go out into the world. Despite the intimacy of their clasped hands, both mother and son seem hauntingly aloof, especially when compared to the frisky dog.
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