Good Luck Coral

Coral jewellery has long been a popular choice for young ladies due to its perceived magical ability to keep the wearer safe from harm. It also symbolises modesty, wisdom and happiness. So it seems appropriate that young lady elected to wear her coral beads and matching earrings to sit for her coming of age portrait. Her empire-line dress is also decorated with tiny pearl brooches on the corsage and sleeves in the classical Regency style.

The sunset colours of the background are typical of Burch’s work. Dating to the early 1800s, the portrait is set in the original gold-plated frame that is glazed reverse to neatly plaited brown hair.

Recent research has revealed that Henry Jacob Burch was born in 1762 and so was seventeen years old when he entered the Royal Academy Schools. He married Elizabeth Beresford in December 1784 at the Paris Church of St Marylebone. The land tax records of 1789 list him as a seal engraver working with an apprentice in Soho so miniature painting was likely not his main source of income. He exhibited between 1787 and 1834.

APHA Registered