English School From The Early 19th Century / Attributed To Charles Shirreff (1750-1829)

Miniature portrait of a gentleman in his library. The fashionable model is caught reading, wearing a blue velvet jacket, a white silk waistcoat, a tie and buff-colored knickers. Watercolor on ivory Rectangular, 8.5 x 7 cm Framed: 17 cm x 19 cm This intimate and very detailed work is attributed to the deaf Scottish miniaturist Charles Shirreff (1750-1829). Shirreff lost his hearing at the age of four and later, as a child, his father enrolled him with Thomas Braidwood, a school owner in Edinburgh. Faced with the challenge of teaching Sherriff to write, Braidwood discovered that he enjoyed the challenge and devised hand gestures that are recognized today as sign language. Shortly afterwards, Braidwood founded Braidwood's Academy for the Deaf and Dumb, the first school of its kind in Britain. Through this tutoring, Charles managed to enter the extremely competitive art world of London. In 1769, aged 18, Charles left Braidwood's Academy to join the Royal Academy Schools in London. It was here that he received a silver medal upon completion of his studies in 1772. After this, he sought his fortune in India and joined other artists who painted portraits of members of the European community who were installed there. His career spanned over a decade, after which Shirreff returned to London in 1808/09 and eventually retired to Bath where he spent the last years of his life. UK IVORY SUBMISSION REFERENCE W6FK9AS8