Portrait of one of Cornelis de Vos' children (probably), seated in a baby chair (1762, Met-Objekt 1321)
Original title: Portrait of one of Cornelis de Vos' children (probably), seated in a baby chair
kurzbeschreibung
Dated 1762, this portrait shows a child seated in a baby chair. Manuel Salvador Carmona produced it as an engraving. The child wears traditional clothing with a headscarf, a ruffled collar, and a pearl necklace with a cross pendant.
Description
At the center, the child sits in a baby chair and looks directly at the viewer. A headscarf, a ruffled collar, and a pearl necklace with a cross pendant are part of the outfit, which is further trimmed with ruffles and ribbons. In its hands, it holds a small object that resembles a bowl or a toy. The background remains plain and dark, keeping the child as the focal point. Along the bottom runs a text block with details about the picture and the sitter.
Context
Manuel Salvador Carmona, an 18th-century Spanish engraver, was known for his portraits. In 1762, this print was made as a reproduction of a painting by Cornelis de Vos, a Flemish Baroque painter. Such engravings often served to circulate artworks and document aristocratic portraits. The attribution of the child to Cornelis de Vos remains uncertain, as the title indicates.
Impact
The precise engraving results in a fine, detailed rendering that highlights the child's fabrics and accessories. The dark background and the child's direct gaze give the portrait an intimate yet formal presence.
Technique
As an engraving, the motif was incised into a copper plate and then printed on paper. The fine lines and hatching allow for high detail in reproducing fabrics and facial features. The monochrome gray-tone palette is typical of this printing technique.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)