European Decor & Design Online
Description:
School of Sir Henry Raeburn (British, 1756-1823)
Portrait of a Gentleman, Said to be Alexander, Third Son of Archibald Trotter of Bush and Castlelaw
Unsigned, identified on a handwritten label affixed to the stretcher.
Oil on canvas, 36 x 28 in. (91.5 x 71.0 cm),framed.
Condition: Lined, retouch, minor surface alligatoring, fine craquelure, heavy varnish layer.
Provenance: Sotheby's New York, British and Sporting Paintings, Thursday, May 27, 2004, Lot 268.
Estimate $2,000-4,000
The Sotheby's catalog entry describes the work as "Circle of Sir Henry Raeburn, Portrait of a gentleman seated in a red armchair, wearing a black coat and holding white gloves." The entry goes on to suggest that the portrait was probably painted in Edinburgh circa 1820.
Framed dimensions are 43 x 35 x 2 1/2 in. with a label from Feist Frames, New York, affixed to the back.
Fine craquelure overall. Alligatoring in the dark collar of his left side and also to a lesser extent on the front of the coat to the right of the red ruffle. Under UV there is a very uniform coat of milky varnish, with only minor retouch evident through the varnish layer, including a very small area on his cheek and neck and a few lines along the bottom edge of the canvas. There is some yellowing to the varnish and minor surface grime.
Items may have wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
Keywords
Henry Raeburn, Bush, Archibald TrotterStuart Slavid
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European Furniture & Decorative Arts
The European Furniture & Decorative Arts department curates auctions of English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and Russian antiques, furniture, and decorative arts.