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The Le Nain Brothers, 'Three Men and a Boy', about 1647-8

About the work

These three men are probably the painter brothers Antoine, Louis and Mathieu Le Nain. Their noses and chins suggest a family resemblance, and the way that the central man stares out at us recalls the traditions of self portraiture. The costumes, with their broad collars, suggest a date of the late 1640s or early 1650s, but if this is a portrait of the brothers it cannot be later than 1648 – the year Louis and Antoine died. Their deaths may explain why the painting is unfinished.

The artist probably worked from left to right, painting the faces first and then the shimmery satin jacket but not completing the other figures. The picture reveals part of an earlier composition: the head of a boy on the right and the colourful drapery emerged when later overpaint was removed. This scene was painted over the portrait of a seated woman.

Key facts

Full title
Three Men and a Boy
Artist
The Le Nain Brothers
Artist dates
Antoine (about 1600 - 48), Louis (about 1603 - 48), Mathieu (about 1607 - 77)
Date made
about 1647-8
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
54.1 × 64.5 cm
Acquisition credit
Presented by Mrs N. Clark Neill in memory of her husband, 1936
Inventory number
NG4857
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

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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A Woman and Five Children
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A woman and five children are crammed into a small space. It is hard to tell where they are, or what their relationships to one another are; their individual facial expressions, which all feel unconnected, seem to be the main focus.The bright colours of the children’s clothes stand out against a...
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Four Figures at a Table
Four Figures at a Table
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In this sombre scene a peasant woman, a young girl and two children sit round a table in a dreary room. The older girl and woman look straight at us, their furrowed brows, pursed lips and tense gazes creating a feeling of melancholy or despair. The boy concentrates on cutting bread, smiling conte...
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The Adoration of the Shepherds
The Adoration of the Shepherds
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A group gathers around a manger to adore the newborn Christ. On the right, the Virgin Mary and Joseph gaze reverently at the infant, alongside two small angels. On the left are two young boys and an old, barefooted man: they are the shepherds mentioned in the Gospel of Luke (2: 8–20). This scene...
Room 29