Thomas George Young

Thomas George with his lovely shock of wavy hair and cute yellow bootees was just 4 years, 5 months and 19 days old when this portrait of him playing with a wooden hoop and stick was drawn. That means he was born on 1 March 1805. Genealogical research shows that Thomas died as a young man and was buried at St James, Piccadilly in September 1829, aged 25.

Drawn in pencil heightened with watercolour, the portrait is set in a later maple veneer frame. A type-written label with his details is affixed to the backing board.