The Maths Lesson
Painting
1840-1850 (painted)
1840-1850 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The sitter is wearing one of the full-skirted buttoned coats (often called tunics) which were so fashionable for boys at this time. They were usually worn with fairly wide legged trousers and were not only smart and practical, but could make an intermediary stage between the dresses of the youngest boys and the tailored jackets of the oldest ones. The fashion in the UK was probably influenced by the exaggerated form, with very wide sleeves and skirts, worn by boys in Germany during the 1830s and 40s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Maths Lesson (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oil painting on canvas |
| Brief description | Oil painting known as The Maths Lesson painted in England between 1840 and 1850 |
| Physical description | An oil painting depicting a brown-haired boy dressed in black frock coat, white shirt and pale blue tie, looking in a perplexed manner at a wooden framed slate which is propped against his body and held by his right hand. His left hand is held up to the left side of his head. The slate has numbers written on it. The bottom of the painting dissolves into black darkness. The painting is in a walnut veneered frame. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Given by George Bednar |
| Object history | Painting sold at Christie's in September 2007 and bought by the donor specifically for the V&A Museum of Childhood. |
| Production | The use of uncrossed sevens on the slate makes an English origin likely |
| Summary | The sitter is wearing one of the full-skirted buttoned coats (often called tunics) which were so fashionable for boys at this time. They were usually worn with fairly wide legged trousers and were not only smart and practical, but could make an intermediary stage between the dresses of the youngest boys and the tailored jackets of the oldest ones. The fashion in the UK was probably influenced by the exaggerated form, with very wide sleeves and skirts, worn by boys in Germany during the 1830s and 40s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.2-2007 |
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| Record created | March 11, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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