A Touching Antique Georgian Miniature Portrait of John Todd dedicated to his son Joseph on 14th May 1822

THE STORY - Of course it was the face of John Todd that stopped me in my tracks, it was so expressive, it almost felt that he was looking at me, pondering his introduction. The portrait is finely painted in watercolour on card, almost monotone in colour with just the gentleness of hints of pink in his lips, cheeks and ears and it sits within a black ebonised frame with acorn hanger. And he really is quite a fashionable young Chap sporting the Brutish haircut with his curls pushed forward and indeed upwards, made so popular by Beau Brummell after Wigs became unpopular with the introduction of the powder tax. And those soft impressive side burns which seem to sink into that very high and very starched collar with white cravat over which sits his double breasted jacket. And then we have that face with those oh so large light coloured eyes and long strong nose under which a small pair of lips of the palest rose colour. I adore him, but it was the back of the portrait that I found so very touching with the following verso

I John Todd, son,
of John Todd of
Bourne, Lincolnshire
do dedicate this portrait
of myself to my dear
Son Joseph on
May 14th 1822
*28 years of Age when Painted* (Added some years after the above)

Of course I tried my best to find out who this John Todd was or any information about his father or son but sadly my research ended in vain. But in some ways it doesn't matter for me as it is not who they were in life that is important but the act of a Father passing his portrait onto his son a token of himself and together their place in their family.

AGE - 1822

CONDITION - The miniature is in good condition, although the card has almost certainly darkened with age. And there is which I am sure you can see from the photographs a brown mark over the top of John Todd's head. There is a very slight crease to the paper at the top edge where you can just see the glass peering through, which I think is likely to be the orignal glass as the edge I can see is not perfectly rounded (best seen in the eighth photo). There is no backing to the back of the frame, which in some ways is lovely as you can see the verso, and the portrait does appear to sit securely in the frame. There is a nail missing from the brass hanger at the back and some movement to the hanger.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Framed - Height 6" / 15cm, Width 5&1/4" / 13.5cm, Depth 1/4" / 0.5cm. Image Size - Height 3&3/4" / 9.5cm, Width 3" / 7.5cm

I do hope that both John Todd and his son Joseph loved this portrait, I think they must have done as it was over 200 years ago John Todd sat for this portrait possibly thinking whilst his portrait was being painted of how he would hand over the portrait to his son and how it would be received. To be honest I think it was loved and has continued to be loved and treasured by each person into whose hand it falls. And I am so very glad it is now my turn to own this portrait until it finds its new Owner. I am very proud to have it in my shop, I hope the new Owner will be very proud to have it in their new home.