Woman With Boy in Blue Suit

A woman and boy look directly at the viewer, the seated woman holding the standing boy at his waist next to her on a bench. The woman wears a long sleeved white empire waist gown with a black tight-fitting bodice, laced up the center front. The laces of the bodice end in tassels. Hanging from the bodice at the waist is a gold object, which might be a small purse, or a watch. Pinned to the bodice are two red roses. She wears a heavy gold necklace with an oval pendant, pendant gold earrings, and a gold diadem accented with two red roses, over which she wears a white mantilla or veil.

The black, red, and heavy gold, with the woman’s dark hair and eyes, gives her a romantic gypsy look. White gloves, a white bead bracelet, low white slippers, and white stockings completes her outfit. The young boy standing next to her wears a white vest and powder-blue suit accented with zigzag and scrolled braiding in a military style. The sides of the fall front of his trousers are also accented with braiding. He wears a white high necked shirt with narrow ruffles at the neck and wrists. The boy holds a small closed telescope up to his face, but looks at the viewer.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges