English school circa 1820.

English school circa 1820.
Attributed to William Beechey,
"Child Portrait".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 124 x 98 cm; 134 x 107 cm (frame).

This is a magnificent work that stands in the great tradition of British Regency portraiture. Attributed to Sir William Beechey and dated circa 1820, it perfectly captures the aesthetic and sensitivity to childhood of the period. The child appears dressed in what appears to be a "skeleton suit," a popular garment for boys in England between 1790 and 1830. It was characterized by a short jacket buttoned directly to high-waisted pants. The wide, ruffled collar is a distinctive detail that frames the face and adds brightness, typical of the romantic fashion of the early 19th century. Following the tradition established by earlier masters such as Reynolds or Gainsborough, the subject is set outdoors, in a somewhat twilight natural landscape. This background is not a simple decoration, but brings an atmosphere of freedom and naturalness highly valued in English Romanticism. There is a loose brushstroke in the background (the foliage and sky) that contrasts with the more detailed and softer finish of the child's complexion and hair. The lighting focuses on the white face and neck, leaving the rest in a warm half-light.

Sir William Beechey was one of the most successful English portraitists of his time. In the early part of his painting life, Beechey specialized in small-scale portraits.[3] Between 1782 and 1787 he lived in Norwich, eventually painting four works for the collection of civic portraits hung in St Andrew's Hall in the city, of which he did only one during his residence there. Beechey returned to London in 1787. He eventually came to the knowledge of the royal family, and in 1793 painted a full-length portrait of Queen Charlotte, who appointed him her official portrait painter. In the same year he was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy. He painted not only portraits of the royal family, but of almost all the most famous or fashionable people of the time. His George III and the Prince of Wales reviewing the troops with a large composition showing the king and prince on horseback, was painted in 1798. He obtained for it the honor of knighthood and his election as a full member of the Royal Academy. The painting was destroyed in the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992. Other celebrity portraits include Lord Nelson, John Kemble and Sarah Siddons.