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Anthony van Dyck, 'Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart', about 1638

About the work

Overview

This life-size double portrait shows the youngest sons of the 3rd Duke of Lennox: Lord John Stuart, on the left, with his brother Lord Bernard Stuart. They were only about 17 and 18 but they ooze aristocratic superiority and are dressed in extravagant fashion.

Van Dyck’s ability to evoke the textures of silk and satin was one reason his portraits were so popular with the aristocracy at the time. Here he has enhanced the effects further by using the clear lines and muted colours of the background as a foil for the folds and rich colours of the fabrics.

He has also evoked a tension in the brothers' relationship. They stand close, their postures overlapping, each with his left hand on his hip and his torso turned towards the other. But their eyes do not meet. One leans back rather passively, while the other, who looks directly us, takes an active step forward, his spurs and sword clearly on display.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart
Artist dates
1599 - 1641
Date made
about 1638
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
237.5 × 146.1 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1988
Inventory number
NG6518
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
19th-century English Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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