A Pair Of 18th Century English School Portraits Of Children

Portraits of a young boy and girl circa 1770 painted by an artist from the circle of Nathaniel Dance Holland (1735 - 1811) The elegant young sitters are both dressed in white and each is depicted half-length within an oval cartouche. With their sparkling eyes, ruddy cheeks and rosebud lips, they gaze sensitively to captivate the viewer nearly 250 years after they were painted. When these portraits were painted, the perception of childhood (and the role of children's clothing) was undergoing significant change. Throughout the early 18th century, it was common for children to wear clothing very similar to that of their parents, which could consist of stiff, restrictive garments of silk and satin. From the 1760s onwards, children's dress began to be dominated by a concern for lighter fabrics - both in weight and colour. The girl wears a white embroidered dress with a back fastening. This garment is made of a fine white fabric (either lawn or muslin) and is sufficiently transparent to reveal a pink veil, which gives a very subtle colouring to the outer garment. On top of her head she wears a ruffled bonnet and a green silk ribbon can be seen behind her head. A single loop rests on her shoulder. The other model's dress is slightly less structured and the shape of her bodice is less defined. Combined with the absence of a bonnet, this suggests that the model is a boy, probably the girl's brother. His simple dress has pleats in the sleeves, meaning that it could be lowered if necessary as he grew older. Washable white clothing was not only practical, but it also signalled a state of childhood innocence, which had recently been identified by the great thinkers of the 18th century Enlightenment as desirable, and a state and stage of development that was distinctive. Both portraits are in excellent condition and are ready to be used and enjoyed in their original frames, which retain their original gilding. I am very grateful to Jacqui Ansell, costume historian and former lecturer at Christie's Education, for her detailed information and analysis on fashion and costume. High resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available. Oil on canvas: 24.5 x 20.5 inches (62.5 x 52 cm) Framed: 28.5 x 24.2 inches (73 x 62 cm)