Portrait of a Boy

This profile image is an example of a tronie (meaning ‘head’). Tronies were popular in 17th-century Dutch art. They were studies of heads,often with exaggerated features. The boy here is dressed in elaborate costume and holds the hilt of a sword. He has long hair and wears an earring. The painting is an example of a ‘niche’ picture, where figures or scenes are framed by a stone alcove.