Portrait of a Child 1645 - 1655

This oval miniature, “Portrait of a Child”, is of unknown creation and origin, and that anonymity asks us to consider the conditions under which portraits were made, and by whom. We can see a small child, likely from a wealthy family, given the trappings of dress, the detail of the locket. The child’s gaze is slightly averted, and it's hard to know if this was the child’s demeanor or the artist’s choice. These highly personal objects were often made to remember a loved one or were given as a token of affection. As such, they offer insight into the emotional lives of people who lived long ago. But who were they? What status did they occupy? Who did they love? We are left to ponder the circumstances of this child’s life. What was their future? How would the identities they embodied shape their life? While it’s impossible to know the child’s identity, the portrait invites reflection on the role of identity and status and the passage of time.