13th Jul, 2024 9:30 GMT/BST
British, European & Sporting Art
1096
Follower of Jonathan Richardson (1665-1745)
Portrait of a gentleman, head and shoulders, wearing a powdered wig
Oil on canvas, 71.5cm by 59.5cm
Provenance: Wentworth Castle Collection, by repute
According to a label affixed to the reverse "This picture was authenticated by Professor Sir Albert Richardson K.C.V.O, former President of the Royal Academy, on Sunday 20th April 1958" (and ascribed to Jonathan Richardson). Sir Albert Richardson also suggested that the sitter is possibly Joseph Addison (1672-1719), the writer and politician.
Sold for £320
Estimated at £500 - £800
Lined. Fairly slack. One key missing. Tacking margins likely removed. One hole to the canvas, 1in x 1/2 inch, unrestored, in the top let quadrant. The edges of the hole are lifting from the lining canvas. A long scuff/flaking line runs up from this diagonally.
Widespread brittle age and impact craquelure, some patches slightly elevated and sharp, but mostly secure at present. One two inch lne of lifting possibly to restoration to the right of the hole and two parallel 2-inch lines to the back of the chair to the right of the sitter which are lifting and flaking. One large restored loss in the right of the hair approx 3inch x 3/4 inch, filled and retouched with the restoration extending into the hair. Possibly a diagonal tear -restored- to the top right of this loss. Numerous further smaller scattered filled and retouched losses including to the bottom left of the hiar, cheek, scarf, and above left eyebrow, and to the background and drapery. Patchy dark retouching in the background, specially to the top 1/3, and futher touches of overpaint to old losses and cracks and dirt in the face and hair. Difficult to see extent of overpaint due to the very degraded varnish which has become opaque and obscuring along with a quantity of old ingrained dirt and varnish. The surface layers have whitened slighly, particularly evident in the darkest passages. A patchy matt surface and surface dirt and accretions including white spots to the right.
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Auction: British, European & Sporting Art, 13th Jul, 2024
Sir Alfred Munnings is rightly celebrated as the master of equine art; his lifelong affinity with the horse is reflected in his insightful and vital equine portraits that capture the grace and power of the animals, and his “Lord Astor on Shooting Stick with Horses” will be sold in the British, European and Sporting Art Sale on 13th July. The painting is a sketch for “A Summer Evening at Cliveden, Waldorf Astor, Second Viscount Astor (1879-1952), seated”, which is held in the Cliveden Estate Collection in Buckinghamshire, now managed by the National Trust. From the same private collection is a watercolour by Munnings; “In the Woods Near Noyon 1918 Attack. Our Retreat” was executed whilst the artist was serving in the First World War with the Canadian Cavalry.
An engaging portrait sketch by the renowned George Romney, which has been in the same family collection since it was painted, will also be offered. The sketch depicts Caesar Hawkins and is thought to have been executed in preparation for a full-length portrait of Caesar, his sister Louisa Anne, and their mother Emma Hawkins (née Adair), which was once in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Four works by one of the leading Victorian equestrian artists, Heywood Hardy are also on offer, hailing from two private collections.
Viewing
Sunday 7th July to Friday 12th July 11am-4pm and morning of sale from 8am
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