This early-19th-century English watercolour depicts a debonair young gentleman sporting the latest attire.

Inspired by the exuberance of Romanticism, fashion in the 1830s was a bold affair, which emphasised emotion over reason and celebrated unconstrained thought. Ladies wore pronounced sleeves and lavish headwear, while gents adopted a striking triangular silhouette with a tucked-in waist.

Here, this particular young chap is wearing a tailcoat, shirt with an upstanding collar, black cravat and waistcoat. Note also the slightly dishevelled hair - emphasising the untamed sublimity of the natural world. This may seem a little far-fetched for a hairstyle but the ideology of the Romantic period would’ve orchestrated much of this young man’s world.

For comparison, a portrait by François-Joseph Navez (1787-1869) depicting Théodore Joseph Jonet and his two daughters in 1832. 

Towards the end of the 1830s, shoulders became less pronounced and closely fitted, so it probably dates to between 1836-1840.

Held within a gilt frame.

Medium: Pencil and watercolour on paper
Overall size: 9½” x 10½” / 24cm x 27cm
Year of creation: c. 1840
Condition: A few areas of discolouration. Frame with some age-related wear.