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Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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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.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart

Date

about 1638

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 237.5 x W 146.1 cm

Accession number

NG6518

Acquisition method

Bought, 1988

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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