Beautiful Small Georgian Monochrome Portrait of Young Boy in his Wig

THE STORY - I was approaching one of my favourite Antique shops when through the window I saw this portrait laying on a shelf amongst a plethora of other items and my heart jumped, I felt certain once in my hands I would love it. And when it was in my hands my goodness how I loved it. The portrait is small, although I think it is too large to call it a 'miniature' and it looks like it is a combination of both graphite and wash on card. It sits in an oval gilt gesso frame with floral sprays on the top, bottom and sides which has at some point in its life been repainted. The boy in the portrait is dressed in a jacket with rounded collar and splendid ruffled shirt and wears on his head a wig. Although the portrait is neither signed or dated my instinct is that this portrait would date to circa 1780 as I believe it is contemporary to the dress worn. I adore the boys face, turned three-quarters on, his eyes look to us and his mouth set in a determined state. His natural hair can be seen falling at the back below the wig and for me he has a sense of fragile pride. I find myself absolutely entranced with the painting of his clothes, the fall of the cloth on his jacket, the buttons both on the jacket and the waistcoat are exquisitely painted along with the ruffles of his shirt. And the monochrome colours of the portrait for me enhance both its beauty and the boy's beauty. The frame I have a sense could be later than the portrait possibly Victorian.

AGE - Circa 1780

CONDITION - The portrait is in very good condition with no foxing that I can see and the colours of the portrait are still strong. The frame as I have mentioned I believe to be later than the portrait and has at some point in recent years been repainted, but it too is in very good condition. The back of the frame has been taped at some point. The hanger looks to me to be original and feels strong and the glass is free from any scratches that I can see.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Framed - Height 8" / 20.5cm, Width 7" / 18cm, Depth 3/4" / 2cm, Image Size - Height 4&1/4" / 11cm, Width 3&1/2" / 9cm.

I adore this portrait and remember so clearly how excited I felt when I first saw it. And since it has been in my possession and I have looked at it many, many times I find it fascinating how different parts of the portrait bewitch me, the proud fragility I find in his face, the rebellious natural hair escaping from the confines of the trappings of wealth and social standing of that wig and those beautiful big buttons!