Thomas Gainsborough Reproduction Appraisal

After Thomas Gainsborough, 'The Blue Boy' Tondo Portrait

This item is a circular (tondo) miniature or small-scale reproduction of the famous 1770 oil painting 'The Blue Boy' by Thomas Gainsborough. The piece depicts Jonathan Buttall in an 18th-century rendition of 17th-century apparel, specifically a blue satin tunic and breeches with a lace collar. The artwork appears to be a transfer print or a highly skillful hand-painted copy on a circular substrate, likely wood, metal, or paperboard. It is housed in a contemporary, dark-finished circular frame with a slim gold-toned fillet or inner border. The overall palette is dominated by deep indigo blues, creamy whites in the lace, and a warm, brownish-sepia background that mimics the aged varnish of an original Old Master work. In terms of condition, there is visible surface wear, including small white speckling or loss of pigment around the figure's midsection and near the upper left edge of the image area. The frame shows some minor scuffing. No visible maker's marks or signatures are present on the front, suggesting this is a 19th or 20th-century decorative accessory rather than an original period miniature. The craftsmanship of the reproduction captures the essence of the Gainsborough original, although the textures appear flatter than a true oil painting.