A Group Portrait of Three of the Children of Peter and Mary Du Cane, All Small Full-Length, Playing Arthur William Devis (1712-1787)

The composition presents three young children engaged in a playful scene within a carefully constructed landscape. A boy stands on the left, pulling a small, ornate red cart. Two other children occupy the cart: one seated centrally and another positioned beside her. The setting appears to be an expansive lawn leading towards a grand estate visible in the middle distance.
The artist has rendered the figures with meticulous attention to detail, particularly regarding their attire. The boy pulling the cart is dressed in a red coat, stockings, and buckled shoes – clothing indicative of a certain social standing. The children within the cart are similarly adorned in fashionable garments appropriate for their age and status. Their expressions are relatively neutral, suggesting an air of restrained composure characteristic of portraiture from this period.
The landscape itself contributes significantly to the overall meaning. The expansive lawn suggests wealth and leisure, while the imposing estate in the background reinforces a sense of familial importance and established position within society. The trees framing the scene create depth and offer a visual boundary between the children’s world and the broader environment.
Beyond the surface depiction of childhood play, subtexts relating to social hierarchy and family legacy emerge. The childrens attire and the grandeur of their surroundings serve as markers of privilege. The act of being pulled in a cart, while seemingly innocent, can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of dependence and the support provided by those above them within the familial structure.
The painting’s composition also subtly reinforces notions of order and control. The boy pulling the cart is positioned slightly forward, suggesting responsibility and agency, albeit within a controlled environment. The arrangement of the children in the cart – one centrally seated, another beside her – implies a deliberate hierarchy even within their playful interaction. Overall, the work transcends a simple depiction of childhood; it functions as a visual statement about social standing, familial identity, and the values associated with a particular class.