A characterful late 19th-century portrait of a rugged gentleman wearing a cravat, red waistcoat and brown overcoat. He’s a man with purpose and clearly too busy to shave.
His outfit dates to around 1830, which is a little earlier than the portrait, so perhaps this is a copy of an older work. Or alternatively, could it be a portrait of an actor in costume? Perhaps a character from a Dickensian play, such as a Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist.
The portrait is housed within a handsome gilded frame with pierced foliate scrollwork.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 15” x 17” / 38cm x 44cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Provenance: England
Condition: Craquelure throughout but the paint layer is stable. Small blemish in the lower right. Frame with age-related wear.