JOHN DOWNMAN A.R.A (1749-1824)

Portrait miniature of a young lady, wearing a white dress with a frilled lace border and a pink ribbon, her hair curled and worn with a double hairband

circa 1790s
Watercolour on ivory (licence PMNK8DH3)
Oval 65 mm (2 ¹/₂ in) high
Gilt metal frame with hairwork reverse

£2,000

John Downman was a multifaceted artist, known for his miniature portraits, drawings, and pastels. Though a large number of these works are well-recorded, it has not been possible to identify the previous ownership or sitter of this particular miniature. It can, however, be confidently attributed to Downman. Another very similar portrait of a lady, sold through Philip Mould[1], shows a woman in almost the same dress, with a similar use of colouring throughout. It has been suggested that this other portrait shows the sitter, Elizabeth Durrance, in her wedding outfit, and the same may be the case for the unknown young lady here.

By the 1790s, women’s dresses in Britain were becoming less voluminous and began to resemble the Chemise dress, made famous by Marie Antoinette and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. The sitter here does not quite wear that fashion, given that the dress she wears has a higher, V-shaped neckline, rather than the classic, lower, square neckline of the chemise. What is similar, however, is the extremely high waistband of the dress she wears, which has been emphasised here with a pink ribbon. Her hair is also styled in a distinctively 1790s manner, with a headband which had been wrapped around twice, creating a space for the hair to appear in the middle.

Downman has emphasised features in this portrait that were not typically highlighted in his works. For example, the lady has a clear dimple on her chin, and she also has a somewhat rounded nose. Her flushed cheeks, however, are very distinctive of the works of Downman, especially the many pastel portraits he produced of important social figures of the period.



[1] See https://historicalportraits.com/artists/140-john-downman/works/5624-john-downman-a-pair-of-portraits-of-elizabeth-and-john-c.-1795/.
Private collection, UK, since 2020.

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Portrait miniature of a young lady, wearing a white dress with a frilled lace border and a pink ribbon, her hair curled and worn with a double hairband

JOHN DOWNMAN A.R.A

(1749-1824)

Portrait miniature of a young lady, wearing a white dress with a frilled lace border and a pink ribbon, her hair curled and worn with a double hairband

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The item added to cart contains materials from endangered or protected species. The Limner Company cannot arrange for the delivery of artworks containing ivory, tortoiseshell, or mother of pearl outside of the UK due to import restrictions. The buyer or designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale.

You are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of any items made from or containing certain endangered or protected species (such as ivory, tortoiseshell, or mother of pearl), while other countries will require a permit (e.g. a CITES licence). Such permits must be obtained from the relevant regulatory body in both the country of importation and exportation. If you intend to import such items into another country you should familiarise yourself with the relevant customs regulations and laws before purchase. Delays or refusal of import or export of such works shall not permit cancellation of a sale. It is your responsibility to satisfy any laws or regulations applying to the import or export of any work containing such protected species. For further information on the protected species listed please visit the CITES website:http://www.cites.org/. For further information about import and export regulations please visit:http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/. On request, the Company can assist with or apply for a license on your behalf.

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shipping TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Worldwide shipping is included in all prices.

The Limner Company does not accept any responsibility for import duty, this is to be paid by the buyer.

See Section 7.5 in Terms & Conditions for information on export/import regulations. Please contact us to discuss shipping options. Some stock items contain materials from endangered species which are governed by CITES regulations and will require a permit to export outside of Great Britain. If a certificate of export is required then this will be the responsibility of and paid for by the buyer.

See Section 7.5 in Terms & Conditions for information on export/import regulations.

Please contact us to discuss shipping options.

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