Traditionally identified as a Portrait of Charles Dickens, small half length, in a brown coat and black stock

Born in Birmingham, William Moore was a portrait painter who made his career in York. He had thirteen sons, the youngest son Albert (1841-1893) became one of the leading exponents of the Aesthetic movement.

The present watercolour has previously been catalogued as a portrait of Charles Dickens at the age of twenty-one. However, it has not been possible to authenticate the identity of the sitter.

We are grateful to Dr Florian Schweizer, Director of the Charles Dickens Museum for his help in cataloguing this drawing.