Portraits of children painted with pastel and pencil

Many of us know Velasquez's or Bronzino's courtly children portraits of princess and princesses who – overburdened with the role given to them - appear mask- and puppet-like and deprived of the possibility to move freely. Nowadays, painted portraits are available to everyone, independent of one's social class. They represent great briskness and liveliness.

While Velasquez's portraits of young Margarita Teresa served as a bride present, when she was designated to marry her mother's brother Kaiser Leopold I, portrait art has gone a long way since then and developed strongly. We can think of names such as T. Gainsborough, A. Pesne, Chardin, Renoir, Corinth Picasso and many others who, with their vibrant paintings enriched art history. Children portraits enclose both: retrospection as well as outlook. Our past, our provenience lies in it, but even more our hope of survival.