Portrait of a young boy, three-quarter-length, in school uniform, holding a black hat in his left hand, in a landscape

Born in Chelsea in 1778, and of French origin, Masquerier studied in Paris under the tutelage of Vincent and Carle Vernet. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1792, later working as Hoppner's pupil and assistant, who undoubtedly was of significant influence on the young artist. He later travelled to Scotland, where he met Raeburn, whose style also sought to emulate. Masquerier soon became a popular portraitist to fashionable society, moving in theatrical and artistic circles.