Play Time

Tenderly rendered, this well-detailed portrait shows three young siblings in a well furnished interior. Wearing a blue silk party dress trimmed with black ribbon and white lace, the eldest child is seated on an upholstered prie dieu chair and is clutching a beautifully dressed doll. Her little brother, dressed in white, stands alongside holding a posy of crocuses whilst the baby of the family (most likely another boy) sits on the colourfully patterned carpet brandishing what appears to be a small spinning top. A balloon back chair sits in the background as well as a chiffonier with mirror doors that cleverly reflects another chair and a footstool.

The portrait has been traditionally attributed to Joseph Ernest Worrall (1829-1913) and dated 1874. Although Worrall painted children, these were typically oil on canvas portraits and there is no evidence that he ever painted miniatures.

The portrait is in excellent condition with fresh original colours. It is presented with a card mount within a delicate ornate gilt gesso frame with Regency style shell corner motifs. The frame has a little gapping to the top left joint and the glass has a scratch.