Filippo Cattaneo 1623

Anthony van Dyck painted this oil on canvas portrait of Filippo Cattaneo sometime in the 17th century. The portrait depicts a young boy dressed in ornate clothing standing next to a dog. Van Dyck was working in Genoa, Italy at the time, and as a northern European artist, he brought with him portrait conventions that were circulating around Europe. But he was also influenced by Italian Renaissance art, especially the work of Venetian painters. As you can see in this painting, light and color are deployed to capture the luxurious textures of silk and the opulent embroidery of Filippo's clothing. His clothing is rendered with incredible realism. Paintings such as this one are often commissioned to assert the sitter’s social status. The images can tell us a great deal about the hierarchies of 17th century Europe. We know about these social conditions through letters, diaries, literature, and account books that help us see portraits such as this one in their proper context.