Bélizaire and the Frey Children
Jacques Amans · 1837
Why it's great
Three white children sit with a young Black boy named Bélizaire, an enslaved child who was part of their household in New Orleans. Jacques Amans painted this in 1837. Today the painting is studied for what it shows about slavery in America, because Bélizaire is one of few enslaved children painted by name. It reminds us that art can record difficult parts of history.
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Jacques Amans was born in Maastricht, in the Netherlands, and worked as a portrait painter in France and the United States. He lived in New Orleans for several years in the 1830s and painted many local families. He returned to Paris, where he died in 1888.
