The Red Wrap

With her pouting lips and blushing cheeks, this young lady looking every inch the Regency heroine. She wears a classical short-waisted dress with narrow lace-edged sleeves and a teal ribbon sash tied in a bow. To add a splash of colour, she has chosen a vibrant red wrap to drape over her shoulder. Her dark hair is neatly arranged in a plaited coil with stylised curls framing her face.

Although unsigned, the portrait has been painted around 1805 by Thomas Hargreaves (1774- 1846/7) who was the son of a Liverpool woollen-draper. He began painting miniatures whilst still in his teens working in London under the guidance of Sir Thomas Lawrence before returning north to set up his own successful studio.

The portrait has an arched band of what is perhaps sun fading along the right side though fortunately this is confined to the background area. It is otherwise good and is presented in a later rolled gold frame that is enclosed on the reverse.