RootsChat.Com

It definitely is a painting because it has texture, it is probably just my low resolution camera-phone filtering out the finer details.  Also, the painting hangs in the dark corner of my Nan's dining room, apparently to keep the paint from fading, so perhaps its dark location contributes to it appearing blacker or darker than it actually is.

My Nan told me that it was a private commission, painted by an amateur artist friend of the subject. At least that is what she was told be her father (my great-grandfather) anyway...

My Nan has apparently named me as the beneficiary of this painting in her will, so at some point in time I will have ample chance to discover more about its origins, but in the meanwhile I am interested to read the various opinions here.

Reading these replies so far, I am leaning toward it being my 4xgreat-grandfather (1832-1904).
He was the first generation to move to Bath in 1850, aged 18 similar to the subject, and the family have lived in Bath ever since.

Many thanks, Paul

This portrait of my ancestor hangs at my grandmother's house. 
It was left to her, by her father, my great-grandfather, who lived 1893-1959.

I think it might be one of three ancestors:
my 2xgreat-grandfather, 1865-1934,
my 3xgreat-grandfather, 1832-1904,
my 4xgreat-grandfather, 1800-1841.

Although it could conceivably be my 5xgreat-grandfather who lived 1760-1836.

Unfortunately, it is not signed or dated on the front, and I am not allowed to remove it from the wall to see the back for labels or other clues of who painted, when or where.

I'd appreciate some thoughts and opinions on this please.

Thank you for this help and advice. 
I will now go ahead and try a 67marker Y-DNA test to begin with, as suggested by 'DevonCruwys' and while there is still a sale on. However, I will try the mitochondrial or autosomal tests at a later date.
Thank you all again, it has been a great help.

I never knew that 150 year old newspaper clippings were subject to copyright! My local library lets me print them off all the time using their fiche printer and the census pages too, I have never once had to sign a copyright form for any of those either.

Anyway, here are my own census transcriptions for the 150 year old census images that you would not allow:

1851 Bath Census: HO107, Piece 1943, Folio 332, Page, 22
31 Morford Street, Bath, Walcot, St Swithins
John Snook         Head         47  Chairman     Wilts, Knoyle
Ann Snook           Wife          39                       Jersey, British Subject
William Snook     Son           13                       Middlesex
John F. Snook      Son           11                      Somerset, Bath
Harriet A. Snook   Dau            9                       Somerset, Bath
Susan E. Snook    Dau            6                       Somerset, Bath
George Snook       Nephew    18                       Middlesex, London

1861 Bath Census: RG9 Piece 1691, Folio 17, Page 27
3 Burlington Place, Walcot, Bath, Lansdown, St Swithins
John Snook          Head   58  Chairman     Wilts, East Knoyle
Ann Snook            Wife    50                       Montgomeryshire, Kerry
Susan E. Snook    Dau     17  None            Somerset, Walcot
Thomas J. Snook  Son       8  Scholar         Somerset, Walcot

1861 Bath Census: RG9 Piece 1691, Folio 69, Page 3
6 Lansdown Road, Walcot, Bath,St Swithins
George Snook        Head      28   Wheel Chairman       Middlesex, London
Martha Snook         Wife       28                                 Wilts, Shaw
Elizabeth Snook      Dau         3   Infant                       Somerset, Bath
George Snook         Son          2   Infant                     Somerset, Bath
Emily M. Snook       Dau        4m  Infant                     Somerset, Bath

Regards, Paul

Hello again experts.

Thank you for the input so far.   I do already know all about the history of the Bath Wheel-Chair.  It was actually invented in 1750 and had completely replaced the Sedan Chair in the city as early as 1830.  That is one of the reasons why I think the photo could date to about 1850-1860. Which is when these Bath Chairs gained the most popularity in the city.  Much of the City of Bath is on a hill and so many people, not just invalids, used the Chairs as a taxi service to get around the city. (see attached newspaper articles). 

Also, and most importantly to my argument is that in the 1851 Bath Census (see attached census page) my SNOOK ancestor was actually recorded working as one of these Chairmen, he had died by 1869.  His nephew then also worked as a wheel-chairman in the 1861 Bath Census (see attached census), but had become a gas-fitter by 1869.  No other ancestors worked in this profession at any other time in our history, hence why I thought it must be a photo of these individuals in 1850s or 1860s.

What would you really say the date is taking all of these factors into account?
Regards, Paul.

Copyright images removed