What's this pouch?

[hylander]

It looks to me, after seeing the whole image to be a pocket as I first mentioned. Looking at the whole painting, you can see the colors and patternd repeated on the opposite side. I don't know if its some hybrid waistcoat where the brocade was tacked onto waist length plaid waistcoat, or if the plaid waist length vest is worn over a full brocaded waistcoat (which is what it looks like to me), or some invention of the artist all together. If you magnify the image you can clearly see that the brocde appears on both the upper and lower edges of the belt. You can also see that the plaid waist length garment lays over the belt, appearing, to me, to be garment sepereate from, and being worn on top of, the brocade.

I'm not saying it looks good, or appropraite, or that it makes any sense. But it would not be the first instance of someone of the period wearing more clothes than seems necessary.

It's always dicey to read too much into a work of art, it is a painting, not a photograph.

[hylander]

Some examples of brocaded waistcoats:

[Friday]

It is where he keeps his laptop of course.

He appears to be very modern, I think it is a table rather than a laptop.

[Steve Ashton]

It is a well known and documented fact that the sporran was invented by William Wallace who found in inconvenient to wield his sword with his cell phone and car keys not properly secured.

This gentleman, by his confidant pose, shows that he has just checked his facebook account and that his outfit is liked by all his friends.

[figheadair]

It looks to me, after seeing the whole image to be a pocket as I first mentioned. Looking at the whole painting, you can see the colors and patternd repeated on the opposite side. I don't know if its some hybrid waistcoat where the brocade was tacked onto waist length plaid waistcoat, or if the plaid waist length vest is worn over a full brocaded waistcoat (which is what it looks like to me), or some invention of the artist all together. If you magnify the image you can clearly see that the brocde appears on both the upper and lower edges of the belt. You can also see that the plaid waist length garment lays over the belt, appearing, to me, to be garment sepereate from, and being worn on top of, the brocade.

I'm not saying it looks good, or appropraite, or that it makes any sense. But it would not be the first instance of someone of the period wearing more clothes than seems necessary.

It's always dicey to read too much into a work of art, it is a painting, not a photograph.

I had considered that it is brocade but it appears that the right hand side as viewed is of different proportions.



As you say, reading a portrait is always difficult although this one seems to have been painted with some care. Perhaps we will never know.

[hylander]

The lefthand side, just could be that the artist wasn't all that interested in putting the effort into detailing that part of the painting, a common practice with many painters. Also considered is that the lefthand side is in shadow and would not have the detail of the right hand side, an effort to reinforce perspective.

As you say, who knows.

[Llama]

Is there any more info on the painting? The artist, where it is hanging, or a higher resolution scan? I want to say that I've seen it, or one like it, in one of my art history tomes.

[Friday]

It is a well known and documented fact that the sporran was invented by William Wallace who found in inconvenient to wield his sword with his cell phone and car keys not properly secured.

This gentleman, by his confidant pose, shows that he has just checked his facebook account and that his outfit is liked by all his friends.

Since this appears to be a remote location, that must be a WiFi extender antenna in his left hand.

[TheOfficialBren]

It is a well known and documented fact that the sporran was invented by William Wallace who found in inconvenient to wield his sword with his cell phone and car keys not properly secured.

This gentleman, by his confidant pose, shows that he has just checked his facebook account and that his outfit is liked by all his friends.

He probably got an extra boost when he saw that his Twitter page was abuzz and that last Starbucks was utterly satisfying. Lol.

[figheadair]

Is there any more info on the painting? The artist, where it is hanging, or a higher resolution scan? I want to say that I've seen it, or one like it, in one of my art history tomes.

Artist not known for certain. Jeremiah Davidson has been suggested but it seems to be styalistically different to others I've seen. It's private hands.