] ] What was so remarkable about the portrait that JA wrote of, was that Darcy is actually smiling there. The most portraits of men from that time are painted (mostly) looking 'serious'.

] I have been having a look at the wonderful online portrait database from the National Portrait gallery (London) and did a search for portraits around 1803 to 1804 of men. Many have an expression you could call a "half smile". I am not an expert, but I wondered if anyone knew anything about this style? And what it might say about Darcy?