Charles Hope (1810–1817), as Bacchus

Young Charles Hope is depicted as Bacchus, the god of wine, in a fancy-dress portrait that was a popular genre in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century British painting. The child, who lived only from 1810 to 1817, is shown with the vine leaves and grapes traditional to the mythological character. Lawrence excelled at painting children, bringing warmth and liveliness to his depictions of young sitters that set them apart from the often stilted conventions of child portraiture.

The mythological conceit allows Lawrence to employ a richer, warmer palette than his standard portraits, with vine leaves and fruit adding color to the composition. The child's rosy skin and bright eyes are rendered with characteristic tenderness, the loose brushwork in the drapery contrasting with the more careful handling of the face.