Figure 1.--This is a detail from a unidentified portrait of four brothers anbd sisters, probably in the 1810s. The children all wear regency dresses. We believe two are boys, including the child here. |
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This is a fascinating portrait of four children, almost certainly brothers and sisters. They look very sweet and are well dressed in period Regency clothing. It is a typical "family snapshot" from an era before photography and shows the children at their best. A very skillfully painted work with an absolutely lovely motif. Unfortunately the portrait is unsigned. It is, however, to believed to be a British artist. The medium is oil on copper sheet. The painting is 7"/17.5cm wide and 8"/20cm high. The painting is from the early 19th century. We would guess the 1810s, but are not sure. All of the children wear dresses and have short hair cuts. We believe two are girls and two are boys. Notice that the two children in white dresses have necklasses. We believe that they are girls. Also theur hair is slightly longer than the other two children. The two children in colored dresses do not have necklasses. We believe that they are boys.
The artist is also inidentified. He has keft us a wnderful portrait, with details on gair styles and clothing. He is clearly, however, not a master painter. A very skillfully painted work with an absolutely lovely motif. Unfortunately the portrait is unsigned. It is, however, to believed to be a British artist.
Tge portrait is a typical "family snapshot" from an era before photography and shows the children at their best. The Regency of course refers to the regency of the Prince of Wales durung the era in which his father Kibg George III (Mad King George) was incapcitated. The styles popular during this period are also called Empire fashions as the Napoleonic Empire occurred at the same time as the Regency. We have not yet developed a page pn Regency fashions, but it us a oroject we have in mind.
This portrait is undated. We would guess the 1810s, but are not at all sure. It could well be the 1820s. Hopefully readers with a berter understanding od dress fashions will offer some insights here.
The medium is oil on copper sheet. The painting is 7"/17.5cm wide and 8"/20cm high. The painting is from the early 19th century. We would guess the 1810s, but are not sure.
There are four children. They look to be about 3-10 years old. All of the children wear dresses and have short hair cuts. We believe two are girls and two are boys. At first glance the children looked to be dressed quite similarly.
Notice that the two of oldest children wear white dresses and that they have both probably have balloon sleeves, only we can only see those of the girls in front. Also they have necklasses. We believe that they are girls. Also their hair is not omly slightly longer than the other two children, but appears to have been done with clearly observable curls. The features of these two children also appear girlish.
Two of the children wear colored dresses. I am not sure about the significance of the pattern.cilors. One boy has a plaid dress which of course suggests a Scottish kilt--a boy's garment. The other boy wears a blue dress. Here I am not sure. We believe that modern color conventions were not yet established. These dresses do not have balloon sleeves. Also these two children do not have necklasses. Their hair is slightly shorter than the other two children and no effort has been made to curl it. The features of these two children also appear boyish. We believe that they are both boys.
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