Simplicity

It is the simplicity and directness of this portrait that draws the eye and makes it lovable. The subject is a young child in a traditional white muslin dress with a lace-edged neckline, narrow sleeves and a pink ribbon waist sash that is so typical of the late eighteenth century. The presence of a gold hoop earring points towards to this being a girl though it was more likely for a boy of the period to be dressed in pink. Similarly the shoulder-length straight hair would usually suggest a boy.

The portrait is set against an ochre hatched background and set in a gilt-metal frame that is glazed on the reverse to reveal brown hair. Fine condition.