What clothing do sitters usually wear?

Female sitters wear fashions that reflect their specific decade, ranging from high-waisted Regency muslin dresses to elaborate Victorian silk gowns adorned with lace collars, velvet ribbons and intricate bonnets. Accessories such as pearls, gold tiaras and carried posies frequently indicate the social standing or marital status of the lady. Changes in sleeve volume, neckline styles and hair arrangements across the 19th century help modern viewers date individual portraits accurately based on historical costume.

How do I identify a silhouette?

Silhouettes are characterised by solid profile outlines of a sitter's head and shoulders, most commonly rendered in black against a pale background or reverse-painted on convex glass. Makers achieved these crisp contours through careful observation and hand-cutting or delicate brushwork. Many antique examples retain their original ebonised wood frames and backing papers which often bear handwritten notes naming the sitter and the date of creation.

Where should I hang these portraits?

These works suit traditional reception rooms, studies and hallways where they can be displayed at eye level to appreciate the fine brushwork and facial expression. Grouping several framed watercolours or oil paintings together creates a striking gallery wall reminiscent of historic domestic interiors. Care should be taken to site pieces away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity, particularly for works on paper, pastel drawings and fragile watercolours.

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19th Century Lady Portrait

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A 19th century lady portrait captures the distinct likeness, character and fashion of women from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras through enduring painted and drawn mediums.