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'HAREBELLS'
by Sigismund Goetze (1866-1939)

This Victorian Portrait of someone's adored child while very special, is much more than meets the eye. At first glance it appears to be a very pretty little girl with an expressive face, however there is a big surprise in store. Having gathered a basket of harebells , she eagerly carried them home, pausing by the ivy as if to ask, "Do you like them? Can I go and play now?" Her sparkling eyes and broad smiling face are enhanced by the wide brimmed straw hat looking too much like a halo, and she looks as though she deserves one. The blue and white flowers harmonise with her lovingly-made dress which has a wide band of blue "smocking" and embroidered cuffs and collar. Indeed she represents the loving image bestowed upon a Victorian child from a comfortable home. By 1903 when this portrait was painted, there was much competition from photographers to capture the moment and at a far lower cost. But this artist has ably demonstrated that the fleeting expressions of such an unpredictable subject, can be secured on canvas for posterity, and with full acceptance of both parents.

So how is there more than meets the eye? Well in fact it is NOT the portrait of a little girl, but it is a boy! This is Jean Philippe Guyon, a younger member of the wealthy French Guyon Family, who live in a **chateau on the West side of Paris.

When it came to children, this fashion remained unchanged for hundreds of years amongst well-heeled parents. Little sons should be clothed in dresses until the age of about six. Then a formal dressing in trousers known as "breeching", would take place to mark the first significant stage of growing up.
For "prettiness" was important to portray within one's surroundings. Little girls were always expected to bring such delights, but boys as adventurers could not be expected to continue this charade for long. The fashion continued until the 1930's when it died out altogether.

**During the latter part of the Second World War, Chateau Guyon became the private headquarters for German Fieldmarshall Erwin Rommel.

Sigismund Christian Hubert Goetze studied in London at the Slade and Royal Academy schools. His work included religious and historical subjects, murals and portraits, many of which were of children. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1888 to 1893.