An Intent Gaze

This handsome young blue-eyed gentleman with a pointed chin was painted by Charles Hayter during the 1790s. He wears a dark blue double-breasted coat with a black collar and brass buttons.

The signature bottom left is partially obscured – C Hayt– / 17–. With a little fading to the skin tones, the portrait is nonetheless in good condition and is set in a gilt metal frame with a fausse montre hanger.

London-born, Charles Hayter (1761-1835) exhibited miniatures and crayon portraits between 1786 and 1832, primarily at the Royal Academy. He taught perspective to George IV’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, and wrote An Introduction to Perspective that ran to numerous editions. Despite going deaf in later life, he continued to paint to within a year of his death. His obituary described him as a ‘kind-hearted, intelligent and upright man’. The V & A Museum has an album containing 440 of his pencil studies for portrait miniatures as well two very fine miniatures by him.