The Paisley Shawl

To sit for her portrait, this blue-eyed young lady has put on her best silk evening dress with its frill-edged neckline, powder puff sleeves with sheer undersleeves, and pale blue ribbon sash. Her light brown hair has been softly curled and decorated with strings of pearls that match her pearl earrings and twisted four-strand necklace. Most eye-catching though is her red and blue paisley shawl that is draped over her arms.

The portrait is set behind a gilt metal mount within the original green leather frame topped with a decorative gilt-metal laurel wreath and ribbon cresting with hanging ring on the reverse.

Although unsigned, the portrait has the stylistic features of Charles Jagger’s work including very finely painted facial features and a stippled background. The unframed image reveals a wonderfully cryptic note across the top in the artist’s hand. Charles Jagger (circa 1770-1827) based himself in the city of Bath at the height of its popularity as a spa resort. He worked from a studio in Green Street in 1809 before moving to the more fashionable Milsom Street made memorable to Jane Austen fans by being conversed about in Northanger Abbey.