This is a late 19th century portrait of a girl in profile, wearing a bonnet and dress, and looking forwards. Her face is bathed in light and stands out against the darker background.

Here, Blake has masterly handled the watercolours to render the subject’s unique characteristics with finesse while also communicating her spirit.

Leonard Blake was a London painter of portraits and figure subjects. He exhibited from 1876 to 1885 at the Royal Academy, New Watercolour Society and elsewhere.