This beautiful watercolour portrait on paper of a lady in a blue dress with a lace collar and delicate bonnet tied with pink ribbons, holding a lace handkerchief, dates from the Victorian period, probably around 1860. From her style of dress and appearance it appears to be a portrait of a middle class woman of some standing.

The watercolour is very well painted by a competent artist and is signed in pencil, although the signature is difficult to decipher.  The artist has captured the facial details and expression of the sitter very accurately, as well as all the tiny details such as the folds of the dress and buckle etc.  The portrait is painted as an oval on a larger sheet of paper and housed in what appears to be the original gilt gesso frame, with a newer backing board. I have not taken the portrait out of the frame...there could well be some information on the sitter and artist behind this later backing.

Condition is very good with no foxing blemishes, although the background painting has rubbed  a little with age, which is only visible under very close scrutiny. The gilt frame is also in good condition with no damage or scratches. The picture is ready to hang on the wall and enjoy!

Size: Overall frame is 21 inches wide by 25 inches high, with the oval watercolour itself being about 13inches wide by 16 inches high.