Tempera on tile, Head of a young boy, possibly Dutch, late 17th Century

Given by G. Poulett Scrope MP

Given by G. Poulett Scrope, MP, 1864

The donor George Julius Poulett Scrope (1797-1876) was a noted geologist and political economist as well as MP for Stroud from 1833-1868.

This painting was originally given to Guido Reni, and then reattributed to the Dutch school as it appears closer to Frans Hals (c. 1580-1666) and the Haarlem school. The technique however, of tempera on tile, is typical of Florence where many examples of paintings on tile can be found from Andrea del Sarto, to Vasari and Giovanni da san Giovanni among others.

More specifically the painting was executed on a particular type of tile called ‘gronda’ in Italian, on the external side on the tile; the edges on the back are still visible. The dimensions of the tile (55 x 38 x 2 cm) are also characteristic of the ‘gronda’ type. The painting was made with pigments grounded with lime (‘calce’).

It is most likely that the painting was executed in Florence by a foreign artist who became interested in the technique. To judge on the stylistic characteristics, the painting may have been executed by one of the many Netherlandish artists present in Italy in the late 17th century.

The unusual technique may explain why this work entered the collection.

This painting was executed on a tile, an unusual technique typical of Florence from the 15th century onwards. It depicts the head of a boy who shows some Northern features. Portraits were particularly favoured on such support. This work was probably made by a foreign artist during a stay in Florence in the late 17th century.

7-1864