Portrait of Francesco Boldini 1859

Giovanni Boldini painted this intimate portrait of his young nephew, Francesco, using oil on wood. Look closely, and you can see the gentle brushstrokes that bring the boy's face to life. The smoothness of the oil paint contrasts with the visible grain of the wood panel underneath, lending the piece an informal, almost domestic feel. Boldini was clearly a master of capturing likeness, but also of using his materials to create a mood. The choice of oil paint, of course, ties this work to the long history of European painting, but the small scale and wooden support also suggest a more personal, craft-oriented approach. Perhaps Boldini saw the act of painting his nephew not just as high art, but as an intimate act of making, connecting him to traditions of both fine art and craft.