A Scottish Boy

Standing in a lake and mountain landscape, this boy may well be looking over his family estate and future inheritance. Wearing a stylish blue tunic with matching pantaloons and dainty shoes with heels and bows, he is holding a toy whip and an over-sized peaked cap.

The portrait is signed and dated ‘By J. G. Howie / 1841’ and further signed in detail on the reverse. It is housed in a bird’s eye maple veneer frame with a gilt slip. The watercolour is in fine condition; the frame has some old losses to the veneer.

In additional to watercolour portraits, James G. Howie painted silhouettes between 1840 and 1869 and was an early exponent of photography in Edinburgh.