Head of a Boy (Alexandre-Évariste "Fanfan" Fragonard)

Around the time of his son’s birth in 1780, Fragonard began to paint small pictures of children in romantic, 17th-century Spanish costume. This may be a portrait of the artist’s son, Alexandre-Évarist, known as “Fanfan,” who grew up to be a painter like his father. The dark palette, spontaneous brushwork, and psychological penetration are evidence of Fragonard’s admiration for Rembrandt, the great 17th-century Dutch painter.