Artists Illustrating Boys' Fashions: Charles William Lambton (1825)


Figure 1.--This Lawrence masterpiece of Master Lambton illustrates the classic boys' skeleton suit widely wornvin the early 19th century. This portraitvwasctaken in 1825.

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a noted portratist and especially succesful in his children;s portraits. The portrait is very well kniown, in part because it appeared on a British stamp--as well as many a biscuit tin. It is probably his most well-known children's portrait.

Subject

"Master Lambton" was Charles William Lambton, the son of John George Lambton 1st Earl of Durham. His full name was Charles William Lambton. Tragically, young Charles died on the December 24, 1831 aged just 13 years old, I don't know what the cause of death was but can imagine the grief and anguish his parents must have suffered upon losing such a beautiful child.

Popularity

Sir Thomas Lawrence was a noted portratist and especially succesful in his children;s portraits. The portrait is very well kniown, in part because it appeared on a British stamp--as well as many a biscuit tin. It is probably his most well-known children's portrait. The painting is variously titled as 'Master William Lambton' or the 'Boy in Red Velvet'.

Clothing

The boy wears a classic skeleton suit. It is a bright red velvet as was fashionable in England and other Europdean countries. We have noted quite a few paintings of voys wearing red and other colored skeleton suits. It would have been worn by a boy from a wealthy family. Of course only wealthy parents could afford Lawrence. Note that the boy did not wear any stockings. Usually boys in sleleton suits wore white socks or stockings. This is the only such image HBC knows of where the boy is not wearing stockings.






HBC






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Created: February 29, 1999
Spell checked: July 30, 1999
Last updated: 3:27 AM 7/31/2010