Quote Originally Posted by Brian K View Post
I just looked at the portraits in question and that is John Brown's younger brother Archibald Anderson Brown, who was valet to Prince Leopold. In the notes for the portrait of his brother it is said that the Queen wanted the artist to make him look better than he did in life as a way of responding to the acerbic remarks about him that were attributed to others in her family. Perhaps the same treatment was given to the younger Brown, hence the princely appearance.
Ah, thank you. Hardly a shop keeper then, and mention of condoned "artistic adjustments" too. Also that does look a wee bit like the Balmoral tartan. You chaps are a mine of information, I am impressed.