Master Lambton Print Value Guide

This mid-century lithographic print captures Sir Thomas Lawrence's 1825 masterpiece, Charles William Lambton, famously known as 'The Red Boy.' While the original was acquired by the National Gallery for £9.3 million, these 1940-1960 decorative editions allowed the public to bring a celebrated piece of British art history into their own homes.

What affects the value of Master Lambton Print?

• Condition of the paper, specifically looking for foxing, yellowing, or water damage behind the glass.
• The integrity of the vintage wooden frame and the quality of the original gold paint application.
• Size of the lithograph, as larger format mid-century prints generally command the higher end of the $35-$45 price range.
• Clarity of the printing, ensuring the deep reds and atmospheric background details remain vibrant and unfaded.

How to Identify Master Lambton Print?

• Check for the distinctive crimson velvet suit and the pensive pose of the young boy seated on a rocky overlook.
• Examine the frame for mid-century construction materials including wood, glass, and aged gold paint finishes.
• Look for lithographic dot patterns under magnification, which distinguish these mass-produced 1940s-1960s prints from earlier hand-engraved versions.
• Verify the origin as the United Kingdom, where these specific decorative reproductions were most common during the post-war era.

History of Master Lambton Print

Painted in 1825 by Sir Thomas Lawrence, then President of the Royal Academy, this work became one of the most famous child portraits in British history. Known popularly as The Red Boy, it was the first painting to ever be featured on a British postage stamp in 1967. The original masterpiece was acquired by the National Gallery in London in 2021 for approximately 9.3 million pounds. This specific item is a mid-century decorative print produced to bring the classical aesthetic of the Old Masters into the average home.