The Riding Habit

During the Georgian era the most energetic sport, apart from dancing, that a lady could legitimately participate in was horse riding. But with the fashions of the day being too cumbersome and voluminous, specially designed riding habits became the popular choice of attire.

This lady’s riding attire is completed with an eye-catching brimmed hard hat trimmed with gold tassels and a black ostrich feather.

Painted in oil on metal, the portrait resides in the original giltwood frame with decorative borders. The outer rim of has had some touching up. The reverse has a later inscription from 1876 when the portrait was gifted to a Jane Gibbs from her grandparents. Indeed it may actually be a portrait of Jane’s grandmother.