This is
a superb Late
Victorian oval
watercolour
portrait of a
beautiful young lady
in a traditional
pale blue Victorian
dress, with a lace
collar and
cuffs (highlighted
in white body
colour) and her hair
dressed in plaits.
The portrait is
painted in intricate
detail and the
artist has captured
a good likeness of
the sitter, who from
her dress and
jewellery appears to
be a wealthy middle
class lady.
The portrait is
monogrammed, as
shown in the
detailed photos.
An old inscription
appears on the
original backing
paper which states
that the sitter is
Mary Jolliffe and
that the portrait
was painted on May
19th 1871. The rest
of the inscription
is unclear
and difficult to
read, as it has
faded over time .
The entire portrait
is in very good
condition with no
marks or tears.
There are a
few tiny and very
faint foxing spots
to the outer edges
which are
commensurate with
age and a reassuring
sign of
authenticity.
The portrait is
housed in its
original mercury
gilded gold leaf
mount and ornate
gilded frame with
subtle burnished
highlights. The
portrait and
frame are in such
good condition
because they have
been protected under
glass over the
years, in their
original rosewood
outer frame with
velvet backing
mount.
