Family Portrait in a Landscape
Gonzales Coques
Flemish (1614–1684)
Gonzales Coques developed a portrait style that combined the intimacy of a small-scale painting with the grandeur of court portraiture. Here, this family displays their wealth by posing in a garden setting decorated with ornamental features taken from the artist’s repertoire of stock accessories. The black groom leading a horse does not necessarily represent an actual person, but would have been perceived at the time as an “exotic” status symbol. Artists regularly inserted African youths into portraits even when their sitters did not retain black servants in their households.
Maverick Mist 
how interesting –
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It is, pineapple was also a status symbol back then.
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What a life back then in the past!
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A whole different world for sure.
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Just having a portrait painted was a sign of immeasurable wealth, Maverick. Naturally, they were the exceptions to the rule!
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Very true Carolyn, and this was also a recording of their status and position. A wealthy selfie perhaps. 🙂
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Hahah…. Yes indeed… 🙂
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