Circle Of Joshua Reynolds Pra (1723-1792) - Portrait Of A Young Girl.

Portrait of a young girl circa 1770, painted by an artist in the circle of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1735-1811). The elegant young girl, dressed in white, is depicted half-length within an oval cartouche. Her sparkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and rosebud lips sensitively engage the viewer, nearly 250 years after the portrait was painted. At the time this portrait was painted, the perception of childhood (and the role of children's clothing) was undergoing significant changes. In the early 18th century, it was common for children to wear clothes very similar to those of their parents, often stiff and restrictive dresses of silk and satin, with whalebone stays. From the 1760s onward, children's fashion was characterized by a preference for lighter fabrics, both in weight and color. The young girl wears an embroidered white dress, closed at the back. This garment is made of a fine white fabric (batiste or muslin) and is so transparent that a pink underdress is visible, giving the outer garment a very subtle tint. She wears a ruffled bonnet, and a green silk ribbon is visible behind her head. A single curl of hair rests on her shoulder. The other child's dress is slightly less structured, and the shape of its bodice is less defined. The absence of a bonnet, combined with this, suggests that it is a boy, probably the girl's brother. His simple dress has pleats at the sleeves, meaning it could be shortened if necessary as he grew. Washable white clothing was not only practical, but also symbolized the innocence of childhood, a state that the great thinkers of the 18th-century Enlightenment had recently identified as desirable, and a particular stage of development. This portrait is in excellent condition and ready to hang and be admired in its original frame, which retains its original gilding. I would like to extend special thanks to Jacqui Ansell, costume historian and former lecturer at Christie's Education, for the detailed information and analysis she provided on fashion and costume. High-resolution images are available upon request. International shipping is possible. Oil on canvas: 62.5 x 52 cm. Framed: 73 x 62 cm.