Thomas Johnson, greatly regretted …

An eighteenth century portrait depicting Thomas Johnson of Newton cum Larton, Cheshire. According to an old inscription on the backing paper, Thomas Johnson was born in June 1754 and tragically died in August 1778 when only 24 years of age. This portrait must therefore have been painted around 1775. A few lines from his obituary published in the Northampton Mercury (August 17th 1778) have also been inscribed on the reverse:

On Friday morning last, died at his House / in this Town, after a long and severe illness, / Thomas Johnson Esq. greatly regretted by all / his Friends and Acquaintance.

Oil on copper housed in a giltwood frame with a giltwood mount.