Private collection, Athens.

A rare family portrait by Nikolaos Xydias, both in terms of size and composition. We are caught up in the monumental scale, the deep dark colours that set off the faces with their fine details. The children sit in a perfectly harmonious posture, with the youngest dressed in red, a vehicle of sensitivity and tenderness. The interplay of hands sets the work in motion. Small details of white collars or laces relieve the otherwise dark tonalities.
The rather serious faces do not allow us to invade their world; the highly expressive eyes, though, with their wonderful eyebrows, a great asset of the painting, disclose somewhat the feelings of the sitters. One child may be reluctant or indifferent to the procedure, another fully conscious of what it is being called upon to do, the third introverted and isolated. The most innocent approach is the little girl whose complexion reveals a great master in the delineation of her young age.

This fine academic masterpiece, depicting the children from an aristocratic background, manages to capture the essence of a rising class, its self -confidence and pride in being the subject matter of a work of art. Xydias is nevertheless capable of retaining their individuality with realistic elements, despite a tendency for beautification.

An extremely appreciated artist, and a member of Parisian high society himself, Xydias was a cosmopolitan fin-de-siecle figure, having travelled throughout Europe. His work was perceived as equal and sometimes superior to that of his French colleagues.

He was a successful portraitist not only on account of his talent and his proximity to his clientele, but also due to his ability to reveal what his sitters wanted to express. His comments on their characters were discreet and respectful coming from a versatile artist who always remained true to his art.