London —
The depiction of an enslaved Black child known as “Jersey” by celebrated 18th-century portrait painter Joshua Reynolds has long puzzled art historians, raising questions about the boy’s identity and life — and whether or not he was even real.
Now, researchers in London say they finally have some answers — after scouring British government archives, original letters, ship captains’ logs and documents relating to crew members, according to the UK’s National Trust. The conservation charity carried out the research in collaboration with London’s National Gallery and the Royal Museums Greenwich.
In the painting, completed…