Wonderful Antique Folk Art Portrait of a Young Woman of Enviable Style

THE STORY - This portrait whose subject I admire hugely for her style is small, painted with watercolour on card, and would date I believe to the end of the Georgian era, circa 1830. The painting is signed 'T Waters', whom I am pretty certain would have been an itinerate Artist travelling the towns and villages of Britain earning his living by his painting the portraits for those who could afford to pay. The young woman who sits for the portrait, is more than likely dressed in her Sunday Best with that gloriously patterned dress with what looks like red roses and white dots and those large puff sleeves with a white lace Pelerine around her shoulders finished off with a splendid large blue and white bow. And how I adore her hair, parted at the centre, braided on either side with what looks like tight little ringlets falling down on either side of that beautiful face. Her gaze is strong as she looks directly at us, there is no flinching or embarrassment in her chestnut coloured eyes. She holds her hand to her waist, and for some reason which I cannot explain, I find the painting of it so very, very beautiful , even though it is barely defined, possibly it is the drama of the black shadow surrounding it. The painting sits in what could possibly be its original frame, if not it is certainly one of considerable age which is made from wood and painted with gold coloured paint.

AGE - Circa 1835

CONDITION - Both the painting and the frame are I think in very good condition considering their age. There is a small white mark on the card in the background by her face which can best be seen in the third picture. The card I think unsurprisingly has darkened with age, but the colours are still wonderfully strong. The frame has some some chips to the gold paint this is mainly to the corners but also to the inside rim at the bottom of the portrait, which I think is best seen in the final photo. I have also just noticed that the card has slipped very slightly in the frame leaving a small gap on the side of the signature which I think is best seen in the first photo. I also think the third photo is the best representation of the colours of the portrait.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Framed - Height 7&1/4" / 19cm, Width 6&1/2" / 17cm. Depth 3/4" / 2cm. Image Size - Height 5" / 13cm, Width 4&1/2" / 12cm

There is something I find so touching about these simple Provincial Paintings, there is a honest immediacy to the them. The time taken to paint the portraits would have been short to keep them both affordable for the customers but allow the Artist to paint as many as possible during their visit. And I do wonder whom this portrait was painted for, maybe her family or maybe a suitor, but most of all I hoped she liked her portrait and I applaud loudly that young woman's style.