Master John Crewe

This boy’s future role in the ruling elite is evident in his opulent clothing and confident stance. Although he holds a dagger and is presented as a miniature adult, his widened eyes and joyful expression allude to an understanding of childhood as a state distinct from adulthood, a development occurring during the second half of the 18th century. A profusion of children’s toys, games, and educational initiatives in Britain during this period led one historian to call it a “new world of children.” Contemporary philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated for a child’s autonomy and self-discipline as a means for developing them into socially responsible modern individuals.