A portrait on display at the National Gallery has baffled art lovers after a mother and daughter discovered what looks remarkably like a Nike trainer. Portrait of a Boy, created by Dutch Master Ferdinand Bol in the 17th century, depicts an eight-year-old boy standing prominently in the foreground clutching a goblet.
The child is dressed in a black jacket and cape, a white shirt with ruffled sleeves, auburn socks and black boots, typical of the era. Yet upon more careful examination, it seems that the boy's footwear bears a white tick strikingly reminiscent of the iconic Nike 'tick' logo.
Given that Nike was established centuries after the portrait was created, some have speculated that the artwork serves as evidence that time travel is real. Fiona Foskett noticed the peculiar detail while visiting the London gallery with her daughter, Holly.
She said: "I said to my daughter, 'Hold on, is he wearing a pair of Nike trainers?' Looking at the age, he must have got his hands on the first pair of Nike trainers ever made. Or is he actually a time traveller?"
A spokesman from the National Gallery explained: "We are delighted that this picture has been such a hit with our visitors. It resonated with followers when we put out a Tweet asking people to see if they could spot a more 'modern' detail by taking a closer look at the shoes of the eight-year-old boy in the portrait."
