Spatterdashes

Full-length watercolour and pencil profile of a middle-aged gentleman with a walking cane wearing a tail coat, red waistcoat and spatterdashes.

Spatterdashes or gaiters were worn by Georgian gentlemen to protect their clothes and shoes from the mud and dirt when out walking. This gentleman has kept his on even though he’s indoors in a stylishly furnished room.

Dating to around 1820, the watercolour has some age-browning as shown. It is housed in a period dark wood frame with a gilt slip. The frame has a small loss to the bottom left corner whilst the slip also has minor losses, all in keeping the folksy style of the portrait.