Figure 2.--This detail was from an important painting so we will hopfully be able to identify it. It is clearly the work of an acomplished portratist, perhaps Raeburn. Almost surely it was done in the 19th century, probably the late-18th centuty. The detail apperas to show two children, surely siblings. |
Some HBC contributors have sent several fascinating art works, but have not provided any background information on these works or even who the artist was. Without knowing the artist, it is difficult to use the image in our assesmment of historical or national trends so we can better undestand fashion trends in the years bdefore the development of photography. We would be very interested in any help HBC readers could offer in identifying and dating these artistic works. Here reader comments are welcome. Either help in identifying these works or insights on the fashions illustrated.
This painting may be difficult to attribute as it may not be by a major artist. We believe it is English. It looks to be a boy about 12 years old. I am guessing that he may be a midshipman about to go to sea and begin a career in the Royal Navy. He looks to be wearing a naval uniform. I am not sure, however, how to date the portrait. I woulkd guess the late 18th centuty, perhaps aboyt the time of the American Revolution or before the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th century. I am not sure what is on the table beside him, perhaps his naval cap.
This detail was from an important painting so we will hopfully be able to identify it. It is clearly the work of an acomplished portratist, perhaps Raeburn. Almost surely it was done in the 19th century, probably the late-18th centuty. The detail apperas to show two children, surely siblings. The older child is a boy and wears an early version of a skeleton suit, one which still has knee braecjhes rather than long trousers. We are not sure if the younger child is his sister or brother. Not do we know if the blue sash was used to indicate a boy in these 19tyh century paintings. Note the hair styles of natural curls.
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