Details
• English School, c. 1850–1870
• After John Linnell (1792–1882)
• Copy by Frances Harriet Halhed
• Oil on board
• Original gilt gesso frame
• Dimensions: 14" W x 17" H x 2.5" D
• Provenance: Caswall family, England
A mid-19th century oil on board portrait depicting Reverend Robert Clarke Caswall, copied by Frances Harriet Halhed after an original work by the English painter John Linnell (1792–1882). The piece is a faithful and sensitively rendered study, capturing the dignified expression and subdued palette characteristic of early Victorian portraiture.
An original handwritten label remains affixed to the reverse, reading:
“Rev. Robert Clarke Caswall copied by Frances Harriet Halhed from portrait in possession of Edith and Dorothy Caswall (original by Linnell)”
During the 19th century, it was common for family members to commission painted copies of ancestral portraits, ensuring likenesses could be preserved across generations. This work likely belonged to descendants of the Caswall family, who maintained a long clerical and literary lineage in Warwickshire.
Framed in its original gilt gesso frame with intricate foliate scrollwork, the painting retains an authentic, time-worn surface with a darkened varnish and gentle craquelure. The frame shows expected age and wear but remains structurally sound. The reverse label provides valuable provenance and should be preserved as part of the artwork’s history.
This portrait exemplifies the Victorian reverence for heritage and remembrance, offering a quiet gravitas that suits both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Condition:
Good antique condition with surface wear and darkened varnish consistent with age. Minor losses and toning to the gilt gesso frame. Original backing label partially torn but legible and historically significant.
