Inquiring readers: Jane Odiwe’s blog features a portrait of a Regency family that had sold in 1983. She wrote to several bloggers recently: “I’m writing to you on Mrs. Henry Rice’s behalf to ask if you would be interested in showing the painting with the information I’ve learned about on your blogs. The family would really like some help in publicising the picture, and wish to make an appeal to see if we can find its whereabouts, as Christie’s do not seem to have any record. They are hoping the painting is by Ozias Humphry, which will help to strengthen his association as a painter of the Austen family.”
Jane Austen's family?
Is this a portrait of Jane Austen’s family that has gone unnoticed until now? The image was made in 1781, when young Jane would have been six years old. What say you?
To learn more about this art work and possible image of the Austen family, click on this link to Jane’s blog. Thank you for joining in!!
Where are the other brothers? There aren’t enough children to be the George Austens.
Nancy: This is what Jane Odiwe writes:
“On the other side of Edward, it is thought this child most likely to be Francis. James would have been at school at this time, and Henry could also have been away. Charles was too young to be depicted, and would still have been lodged with the family who looked after the infant Austens, as was the custom.”
How curious. After all this time wouldn’t it be amazing if this did turn out to be an Austen family portrait? I’m trying to remember my Austen family chronology: would Edward still have been home when Jane was 6? And George would have been with the family that cared for him, I assume?
I do not think it is a portrait of the Austen family because the likenesses of the parents as shown do not resemble the known pictures of George and Cassandra Austen. Just think of Mrs. Austen’s silhouette; that very prominent Roman nose would have been an artist’s delight. It looks nothing like the lady’s nose in the painting.
However, it would be wonderful to have such a picture!
Would the Austen Family have had a picture made without all their family members? I ask because I don’t know the custom of the time. Also, the style seems very casual. Wouldn’t they have wanted a formal portrait? Thanks for posting this–a veritable mystery!!
Thank you for posting about this, Vic! It is a veritable mystery, and whilst I have asked the same questions as everybody here, there just seems to be something right about the painting. I’m not sure we will ever know the answer unfortunately!