Biedermeier portrait of a boy with a fawn, oil on canvas, 19th century

A portrait of a young boy from the Biedermeier period, executed in oil on canvas. The depiction shows a boy in a bust-length view, protectively holding a young fawn in his arms. The sitter wears a dark blue jacket with prominent brass buttons over a white shirt with a characteristic, broad stand-up collar. The painting is rendered in an academic, naturalistic style, with the flesh tones finely modelled and a calm, focused gaze from the boy directly addressing the viewer. The work is stretched on a wooden stretcher frame. On the reverse of the frame, there is a handwritten marking in red chalk that can be read as 101 S; further inscriptions are illegible. The painting is housed in a richly decorated, gilt ornate frame with sculptural corner and centre ornaments in the Rococo style. Frame 65 x 57 cm