Boys playing with Tops
1780. Oil on canvas.Not on display
Four boys are playing outside with their spinning tops, which they spin and try to pick up as the tops twirl. The children´s scene, captured with evident tenderness by the painter, serves to allude to certain physical abilities, such as dexterity and skilfulness. According to the new Enlightenment ideal, play also formed part of the education of young people. It is part of a set of children´s educational scenes which Castillo designed for tapestries hanging over the doors of the Princess of Asturias´ powder room at the El Pardo Palace. Museo del Prado has other examples of the same decoration (P005521, P003933, P003934, P003935, P003936, P003534, P003311, P003312, P003313, P003314).
