The clothing depicted in this portrait suggests a date of about 1788 to 1792, characterised by the long narrow sleeves of his coat, extending over his wrist. The high, turn-down style of collar was fashionable for this period, although not a young man the sitter appears to have abandoned the traditional wig and is "wearing his own hair". With thanks to Dr Susan North from the V and A for her help in identifying the clothing. Francis Alleyne was a British portrait painter, usually on a small scale. He seems to have specialised in small, oval, three-quarter lengths, usually signed on the back, which look like middle class versions of Wheatley's more elegant small portraits.
Francis Alleyne was a British portrait painter, usually on a small scale. He seems to have specialised in small, oval, three-quarter lengths, usually signed on the back, which look like middle class versions of Wheatley's more elegant small portraits.