The little boy with the white rabbit is Bernard Murray, 5 years
Please note: the terms "negress" and "mulatto" are no longer
politically correct, but they were "proper" terms in their day.
old when Margery Ryerson painted his portrait in about 1960.
This painting is owned by the New Jersey Historical Society.
Here is the earliest painting I have found of a black person in
England. It shows John Blanke, who was trumpeter to kings
Henry VII and Henry VIII. He was paid 8d per day. We know
that the full picture celebrated the birth of a prince in 1511.
Do visit The National Archives' excellent Black Presence.
If you'd like to see superb modern paintings of black people,
search the web for the fantasy art of Boris Vallejo, Rowena
Morrill and Frank Frazetta. Rowena's Black Sacrifice is Wow!
Visit the websites of two successful black British artists:
Stephen Wiltshire MBE
Willard Wigan MBE