Wonderful Antique Georgian Watercolour Portrait of a Young Gentleman Who Knows How to Strike a Pose

THE STORY - Yes it was that face that got my attention, how could it not, it is I think a face after all that is wanting to be seen. The painting of this young gentleman is painted with a single colour watercolour on card and has written on one of the folds of his cape what looks like the name E S A Norman and the date 1834, meaning it was painted at the end of the Georgian era, during the reign of William IV. I have tried to find an Artist during that period with that name but sadly have found no references. The painting I think is wonderful, catching what could be described as the 'arrogance of youth' with possibly a bit of a Diva in personality as this young gentleman turns his head to look directly at us, his hand holding his fur collared cape stopping it falling from his shoulders. His hair has been wonderfully styled with those two incredible curls either side, framing that beautiful face with those strong eyebrows, large eyes and those pursed lips. There is a lovely immediacy to the portrait, one can almost imagine the fun that was had in the dressing up and the painting of this portrait, as I do wonder whether indeed this painting was done by a friend of our dear young man. The painting is I think fine but there is one element that isn't so fine and this is often found in paintings and that is his hand of which there is little sense of depth or detail, certainly not when compared with the rest of the painting. The portrait sits in I think its original frame of maple veneer with a gold painted slip and has aged beautifully with the portrait.

DATE - 1834

CONDITION - The portrait is in good condition. The card has clearly darkened with age and there are two watermarks on it at the top and bottom of the picture (photos 8 & 9). The frame too is in good condition with age and wear to the veneer one would expect with its age, but there are no chips to it. The paint of the slip certainly shows sign of age and wear and has faded. The back of the frame looks interesting as it almost looks like a double frame, the backing is held simply by four nails and the backing paper has dried and is flaking off. It looks like the ring to hang it from could be the original one, but I am unsure.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Framed Height 9" / 23cm, Width 8" / 20cm, Depth 1" / 2.5cm. Image Size - Height 6&1/4" / 16cm, Width 5" / 13cm.

I love this young man and I very much hope that he loved his portrait and I would like to think he had it with him for all of his life which I hope was a very long and happy one. I find it incredible that nearly 200 years later it can still invoke in me a sense of immediacy and conjures up images of it being painted by two young people in a moment of carefree fun but also a moment where two young people play with forming their identities one that of the influential Dandy and the other that of the aspiring Artist a scenario that is still very familiar today.