A Gentleman driving a Lady in a Phaeton

The sitters have not been identified but it has been suggested that they may be members of the Hope family, who were bankers in Liverpool. Driving was a popular pastime in the 18th century, and high open carriages such as this required a degree of skill to manoeuvre. They were known as 'phaetons' after the son of the god Apollo who recklessly attempted to drive his father's chariot.

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