The Young Postillion

Son of a carpenter, in his painting he mostly stayed close to the artisan milieu and the life of ordinary people. He preferred to portray simple people in their own environment, bringing out their spontaneous and natural qualities.
Reiter, who moved in the social circle around Josef Freiherr von Spaun (1788–1865) and Franz Schubert (1797–1828), painted a remarkable number of child portraits, which brought him a large portion of his wealth and artistic success.
The portrait of the boy was painted in the artist’s prime, at a time when painting in the artistic metropolises showed a predilection for the world of the child.
The young Postillion is a boy of about ten years old, with a post-boy’s cap on his head.
Warm shades determine the muted colouration. The artist makes skilful use of light effects: the sunbeam reflecting on the visor of the cap and illuminating the shirt-collar.
The close-up rendering and the limited area lend the “masquerade portrait” an almost intimate quality.
In a similar composition at the Stadtmuseum NORDICO in Linz, the boy is clutching a bird in his fist.

OEHRING Erika: Reiter Johann Baptist, The young postilon in: DUCKE Astrid, HABERSATTER Thomas, OEHRING Erika: Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2015, p. 154