🐕 Important Victorian Portrait — Eliza Maddock of Onchan Isle of Man with Her Havanese Dog, Oil Painting

👩🎨 Subject & Medium

Presenting a remarkable mid-19th-century British oil painting titled:
“Portrait of Eliza Maddock, née Birtles, of Onchan, Isle of Man, aged 17” by the artist J.R. Siddall, 1866 (inscribed verso).

This three-quarter length portrait features the young Eliza Maddock, shown at 17, facing forward with a serene, composed gaze. She wears a beautifully detailed deep blue gown with delicate silver trim, her brown hair swept back into a neat bun. In her right hand, she holds an elegant hat adorned with a striking red plume, while her playful white Havanese dog jumps up affectionately at her side.

The scene is set against a rich landscape background — a lush garden on the Isle of Man, with tall trees, green fields, and a glowing sunset sky blending gold, purple, and blue tones.
Medium: Oil on canvas, set in a later decorative gilt frame, ready for hanging.

🎨 Composition & Technique 

This portrait exemplifies the elegance and narrative charm of Victorian portraiture, blending realism, atmosphere, and emotional depth.

The color palette is richly layered: deep navy blues and shimmering silvers in Eliza’s gown, vivid red in the hat’s velvet plume, soft creamy whites in the dog’s fur, and a stunning backdrop of glowing sunset hues. The artist’s brushwork shifts gracefully — delicate, fine strokes define the sitter’s facial features, hair, and intricate clothing details, while more expressive, painterly handling brings energy and softness to the surrounding landscape and sky.

The overall style is dignified yet intimate, combining formal portraiture with a romantic sense of place and personal story. It captures both the sitter’s individual character and the social standing of the Birtles family, offering not just visual beauty but also historical depth and narrative richness.

✍️ Signed by the Artist

This magnificent 19th-century portrait carries added significance thanks to the clear signature of J.R. Siddall, inscribed verso on the back of the canvas. The artist’s signature not only confirms Siddall’s authorship but also enhances the painting’s provenance

🎨 About the Artist

J.R. Siddall was a 19th-century British artist primarily known for his portraiture, and this stunning depiction of Eliza Maddock of Onchan, Isle of Man, aged 17, alongside her lively Havanese dog, stands as one of his most notable surviving works.

While little public information exists about Siddall’s wider life or artistic output, his style firmly aligns with the Victorian portrait tradition — a period when artists sought not just to capture a sitter’s likeness, but also to convey their social standing, personality, and the intimate atmosphere of their world. By repute he was a relative of the Birtles family.

✍ About the Sitter

This painting portrays Eliza Ann Johnson Birtles (later Maddock), a key figure in a prominent Isle of Man and Liverpool family. Painted when she was 17, it remained for years in her grandson’s home and is attributed to J.R. Siddall, believed to be a relative of the Birtles family.

Eliza’s life journey included marriage to Arthur Maddock (after eloping), a return to the Isle of Man with her children, and active involvement in managing inherited family estates. The Birtles family were notable property owners and businesspeople, with holdings in Liverpool and the Isle of Man — making this portrait a valuable window into Victorian family life and local history.

🖼 Frame Details

Presented in an ornate later decorative gilt frame, enhancing the artwork’s period elegance and making it a ready-to-hang statement piece for home, office, or gallery.

📏 Dimensions Framed

• Height: 104 cm

• Width: 83 cm

• Depth: 3.5 cm

📜 Provenance

• By descent through the Birtles family

• Grandson’s private collection

• Phillips & Sons, The Dower House, Cookham

• Collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant

💖 Why You’ll Love It

✅ A rare, historically significant Victorian portrait with rich family and social history.
✅ Beautifully detailed brushwork and masterful use of color capturing both elegance and emotion.
✅ A collector’s gem and decorative showpiece for refined interiors.
✅ A meaningful, heirloom-quality artwork that connects art, family, and place.
✅ A conversation starter that will impress guests and visitors alike.

🛠 Condition Report

Offered in fine used condition:

• Canvas: Relined; some foxing, craquelure, light scratches, and minor paint loss, consistent with age.

• Frame: Wear, scuffs, stains, cracking, and small losses, all appropriate for its period.
  Despite these signs of age, the piece remains stable, display-ready, and richly atmospheric, retaining its artistic and historical appeal.

🌍 Worldwide Shipping Available
Professionally packaged and fully insured for safe international delivery.

🖼️ Available exclusively through Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

📩 Inquire now to secure this unique piece