Ralph Earl paints George Onslow (circa 1783) in his hunting gear and cream and brown striped waistcoat and feathered cap. Yay or Nay?
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Sunday, November 7, 2010
Yay or Nay Colonel George Onslow
Last week we strained in the darkness to see what Magdalena Hess was wearing and when everyone saw it the result was a Nay. Miss Hess' sister also has a portrait by Fuseli which is even more difficult to see and just as odd. This week, let's turn to some more rugged clothing with a sitter who is out to prove one can be portly and still be fashionable.
Ralph Earl paints George Onslow (circa 1783) in his hunting gear and cream and brown striped waistcoat and feathered cap. Yay or Nay?
Ralph Earl paints George Onslow (circa 1783) in his hunting gear and cream and brown striped waistcoat and feathered cap. Yay or Nay?
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Personally I don't think putting horizontal stripes on that beer gut is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a nice combination and he matches his dog, so Yay.
ReplyDeleteThe stripes make my eyes cross and really, I'm with heidenkind. Why would anyone want to accentuate that belly?
ReplyDeleteI have to say nay to the stripes, but yay to the overall composition and the rest of his apparel. He'd look very natty without those stripes.
Whoa, that's one big round tummy and the stripes don't help! Even the dog looks mesmerized. I can't help but wonder why the painter would deliberately emphasize his portliness with bright red and white when all the other colours are so muted. You would think that at the first sitting he might have suggested another more subdued waistcoat......so Nay from me
ReplyDeleteYay! Back to an age when being portly was mark of success, at least it showed you weren't starving. Its a jolly vest, he's got a feather in his hat, and he looks like he's set for a days' sport. He doesn't look like a Hollywood Stereotype in the least, so a great big YAY from me.
ReplyDeleteNay. I am not fond of those stripes.
ReplyDeleteNay. This is the 18th century equivalent of camos and a trucker hat. He looks like Squire Western in Tom Jones, that uncouth country fellow.
ReplyDeleteSimple, but effective. Yay.
ReplyDeleteWas portly as negative then as it is today? I wonder how different body image was perceived as far as the men of this time were concerned...a Yay for me...he looks pretty contented with his life.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm a sucker for a striped waistcoat. And a man who hunts. And the dog is adorable.
ReplyDeleteNay, those stripes make him look fat.
ReplyDeleteI say Yay! This is how I imagine Charles Musgrove in Persuasion -- chubby (Miss H, I fear tis not the stripes that make him look fat ;-) ), pleasant and prosperous, a bit dim, content with his lot. Katherine Louise
ReplyDeleteDo I think he is an ideal model? No. Is it a dashing, timeless country ensemble? Definitely, yes. I like it.
ReplyDeleteA big NAY! Horizontal stripes with that pot belly??? What was he thinking?
ReplyDeleteJudging by his face and body shape I would strongly suggest he wears a cape with hood...
The only thing that looks good is the beagle. And the feahter. By the way, I adore your blog! It's awesome.
ReplyDeleteNay, the strips are in no way appealing to the eye
ReplyDeleteBeer gut + stripes = a no from me!
ReplyDeleteStripes on that belly? Nay.
ReplyDeleteNay. The proportions are all off. Stripes on that belly might be OK, but they would need to be wider, and the double breasted buttons need to be places much further apart. Even on a skinny guy, this outfit wouldn't be quite right.
ReplyDeleteNay. The proportions are all off. Stripes on that belly might be OK, but they would need to be wider, and the double breasted buttons need to be places much further apart. Even on a skinny guy, this outfit wouldn't be quite right.
ReplyDelete