Hoop Rolling

Hoop rolling (or trundling) has been a popular children’s game for centuries though it was often seen as a menace and the cause of accidents on the streets of London. Not so in this charming portrait of a little boy dressed in a tunic and frilled pantaloons playing safely with his wooden hoop and stick in a rose garden.

Dating to around 1830, the watercolour is housed in a period stained pine frame with a gilt slip. The frame has acquired a patina in keeping with its age.