Portrait of Two Boys

William Edward Kilburn

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two young boys seated in a vintage-style portrait. They are sitting on ornate chairs with red upholstery, facing slightly toward the camera. The boy on the left has a round face, dark eyes, and chin-length hair parted in the middle. The boy on the right has a similar hairstyle, but with his hair parted on the side and slightly longer facial features. They are dressed in velvet-like jackets with velvet belts, large collars, and bow ties. The boy on the left is holding papers or illustrations in his lap, and the boy on the right is resting his hands on similar documents. The background is a painted backdrop showing a cloudy sky. The portrait is housed in a framed daguerreotype case.