to the Salon of a
Portrait of an Unknown Child
By an Unknown Artist

Back to E-Museum Entrance

Portrait of an Unknown Child By an unknown artist, date unknown Poker work on wood panel, 12.25 in. by 9 in. (inside frame) and 12.25 in. by 9 in. framed Digital image thanks to owner

Portrait of an Unknown Child Shown with the frame cropped and top of image cropped By an unknown artist, date unknown Poker work on wood panel, 12.25 in. by 9 in. (inside frame) and 12.25 in. by 9 in. framed Digital image thanks to owner

Portrait of an Unknown Child, verso Showing the back of the antique panel Label at top of back is covered with cellophane tape Undated panel is by an unknown artist Poker work on wood panel, 12.25 in. by 9 in. (inside frame) and 12.25 in. by 9 in. framed Digital image thanks to owner

Portrait of an Unknown Child, verso, detail of the label Label shows handwritten number 23 followed by a printed name: "W.H.Y. Smith" Poker work on wood panel, 12.25 in. by 9 in. (inside frame) and 12.25 in. by 9 in. framed Digital image thanks to owner

Portrait of an Unknown Child, close-up view of the child By an unknown artist, date unknown, circa 1799 Poker work on wood panel, 12.25 in. by 9 in. (inside frame) and 12.25 in. by 9 in. framed Digital image thanks to owner

From England comes this portrait, owned by David Bird, about which almost nothing is known. He did believe it to date from the end of the 18th C. to the beginning of the 19th, although he did not specify the reason for this statement. Certainly the back of the panel suggests it is very old.

It is obviously the work of an expert pyrographic artist and has been (at a much later date) framed with great care; however, the subject's identity is as mysterious as the identity of the artist. There is likewise no date indicated. The label verso shows the handwritten number 23 followed by the printed name of W.H.Y. Smith. It is thought that this label could be from an auction house and the number the lot or item number.

It is obvious that the child's eyes are greatly exaggerated and disproportionately large. Since the rest of the work indicates that the artist is very expert at what he did here, it is unknown why the eyes are thus portrayed. The E-Museum would welcome any information provided in this regard. It is thought that this work may be after a famous painting, but, if so, it is not known which one.

---

If you have any questions or any information regarding this mysterious work, please e-mail David Bird and the E-Museum Curator.

You are leaving the Salon of an undated
Portrait of an Unknown Child
by an Unknown Artist

You can return to the