The artwork titled “Joshua Walmsley Radcliffe, Mayor of Oldham,” executed by the artist James Charles in the year 1887, belongs to the Realism art movement and is classified under the portrait genre.
The artwork depicts a distinguished gentleman, identified as Joshua Walmsley Radcliffe, who served as the Mayor of Oldham. He is adorned in a vibrant red coat with elaborately detailed gold embellishments, symbolizing his status and office. The figure is depicted with a serious and composed expression, his long, graying beard adding a sense of dignified maturity. The background is intentionally kept dark and unobtrusive, allowing the central figure to dominate the composition. The artist’s realistic rendering captures not only the physical likeness but also the gravitas and authority of the mayoral subject.
