The Master Painter, 1877

Jan Frans Verhas specialised in portraits of wealthy middle class children. Although in most cases the composition is carefully considered and quite classical, one is struck by his lively depiction of children at play. In this work, The Master Painter shows a small boy in great concentration making his first marks with a brush under the tender and encouraging gaze of his brother and sisters. The children’s natural poses enhance the relaxed feel one finds in a snapshot. The warm colours, the decorative background and the opulent furnishings accentuate the middle-class atmosphere.