Early 19th Century Portrait Miniature of a Gentleman in Blue Coat

Early 19th Century Portrait Miniature of a Gentleman in Blue Coat, c.1810

Early 19th-century portrait miniature of a gentleman wearing a blue coat and white cravat, presented within an oval aperture in a gilt frame. The sitter is shown half-length, with softly curled hair, a high white collar and a dark blue coat, giving the work a refined Regency-period character.

The clothing suggests a date around the early 1800s to 1810s, when men’s dress had moved away from the powdered wigs and embroidered coats of the later 18th century towards plainer dark tailoring, high collars and carefully tied white cravats. The direct gaze, delicate modelling of the face and restrained pale background are all typical of portrait miniatures of this period.

The miniature is presented in a later gilt frame with a decorative border and oval mount. A charming early 19th-century portrait, well suited to collectors of Georgian and Regency portrait miniatures, costume history, and small-scale antique portraiture.

Artist: English School
Title: Portrait Miniature of a Gentleman in Blue Coat
Medium: Watercolour, believed on ivory
Date: Early 19th century, circa 1805–1815
Miniature size: 7 x 6 cm
Framed size: 17.5 x 19 cm
Frame: Later gilt frame
Ivory declaration: Registered under the UK portrait miniature exemption
Condition: The miniature is in good overall antique condition. It is presented behind glass and has not been examined out of the frame. The gilt frame is later and is in good general condition with minimal marks or scratches. Please see photographs for details.