Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Probably painted when the boy left home to go to boarding school, wearing an Eton collar, he has his red silk lined hat held in his left hand.
English boys in the early decades of the 19th Century began wearing short jackets which came to be know as Eton suits as the fashion was worn at Eton school.
The Eton uniform was originally quite colourful, including blue jackets and red waist coats. The school adopted black jackets in 1820 in mourning for George III. The jacket was worn with a large stiff white collar.
To the sitter's left ivy hangs down from a large stone urn; in portraiture ivy is a symbol of fidelity, friendship and affection.
SIZE: 38 x 33 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: Sussex Private Collection for many years, probably by descent.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of a Young Boy, Early 19th Century; English School.
