Tinsel print, hand-painted, circa early 19th century

'Mr Hicks as Valentine', London, W.S. Johnson. 60. St. Martins Lane.

Tinsel prints were extremely popular during the first half of the 19th century as an artistic hobby for adults. Prints with depictions of the most popular stars of the London theatre scene or historical and fantastical characters were hand-painted in watercolour and then embellished with brightly coloured tinsel elements and other scraps of material, such as the tinsel feathers on Valentine's helmet in this example.

Framed.
42.5 X 48 cm.

Fabric swatch: Banon in red by Robert Kime