SELF PORTRAIT WITH ENDYMION PORTER, Anthony van Dyck - Floor 1, Room 16B

Circa 1965. This exquisite painting is not just a portrait of two men; it’s a depiction of two dear friends from different social classes. The symbols use by the artist make terrific scav hunt clues.

SAMPLE SCAV HUNT CLUES

Elementary School

• Oval Painting

• Two Men standing next to each other

Middle School

• One hand of each man is level with the other on a rock.

• One man’s outfit in embellished and white, other is plain and black.

High School and Older

• Half of background is scenery, other half is curtain/column.

• One man is more confident than the other.

Extra Hard Clue

• The hands never lie.

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE PAINTING

Symbols of Friendship

• Shape of Frame: Painting is in one of the only oval frames at the Prado and is used to convey intimacy.

• Central Focus: Center Line draws eye to bottom of painting to two hands sitting level with each other on a rock as a way to symbolize a solid friendship.

• Pose: Van Dyke’s ungloved hand is lifting his cloak up to heart.

Symbols of Different Social Classes

• Contrasting Tones: One man’s outfit is a luminous, shimmering grey-white silk doublet, which catches the light, while the other’s is a somber, matte black cloak.

• Positioning: One man is larger and facing forward, while the other is turned backward looking over shoulder.

• Scenery: The scenery behind one is open to a view of the outside, the other man is closed in by a curtain and a column.

• Tactile Contrast: One hand on the rock is naked and soft, the other is in a dark and rough glove.