Contact Seller
Brave Fine Art
Tel01684 304487Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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Italian Painting Signed And Dated 1924
Non UK callers :
+44 1684 304487
19th-Century Portrait Of An Elizabethan Gentleman
This fine portrait of an older gentleman has an unusual story and remains an intriguing mystery.
During the 1940s, it was discovered by a parish priest when browsing a local junk shop in Essex. He was also an amateur painter and was looking for canvases to practice on. At the time, the portrait had accumulated so much dirt that it appeared to be blank and simply primed with dark paint.
Upon arriving home, the Reverend examined the canvas more closely and soon noticed the faint outline of a head, which then prompted him to clean it.
As the layers of grime were removed, this beautiful image began to reveal itself… It was then later professionally restored and relined.
So how old is this gentleman and how did he end up discarded in a junk shop in Essex? On the face of it, he’s dressed in Elizabethan clothes including a fine ruff, similar to the one worn by Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1554-1618) in his portrait by William Segar. However, we can rule out this being a late 16th-century portrait for several reasons.
These include the fact that it lacks an appropriate level of craquelure for a piece so old and also canvases were quite rare in the 16th-century. Plus, if this was a 16th-century canvas, you’d generally expect it to have a coarse man-made weave but this one appears finer and machine-made.
With all the facts considered, we feel that it’s a 19th-century portrait, which is perhaps a copy of an old master. So probably not as old as the gentleman appears but still a wonderful decorative item.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 18” x 23” / 46cm x 58cm
Year of creation: c. 1870
Provenance: England
Condition: It’s been restored professionally, which included a reline and a clean. As you can see, the colours have faded a little over time and there are some light marks in the lower left. Brave Fine Art is a boutique art dealership based in the picturesque Malvern Hills, England. Established in 2017, our clients include private collectors and interiors designers throughout the UK, USA and Canada.
We tend to focus on decorative art that captures the imagination - from monumental 17th-century portraits through to characterful vintage landscapes. Every piece in the collection has an interesting story to tell and we work hard to discover the hidden history behind each one.
You may have seen us mentioned in popular magazines such as Vogue, Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. It’s always exciting to spot a piece we recognise in a beautiful home or place of work.
Do feel free to contact us as we’re always happy to share further information. We also offer a finding service if you’re working on a project for a client or need that special piece for your home.
SellerBrave Fine Art
View all stock from
Brave Fine Art
Private dealer
By appointment only
Birmingham
England, UK
Tel : 01684 304487
Non UK callers : +44 1684 304487
During the 1940s, it was discovered by a parish priest when browsing a local junk shop in Essex. He was also an amateur painter and was looking for canvases to practice on. At the time, the portrait had accumulated so much dirt that it appeared to be blank and simply primed with dark paint.
Upon arriving home, the Reverend examined the canvas more closely and soon noticed the faint outline of a head, which then prompted him to clean it.
As the layers of grime were removed, this beautiful image began to reveal itself… It was then later professionally restored and relined.
So how old is this gentleman and how did he end up discarded in a junk shop in Essex? On the face of it, he’s dressed in Elizabethan clothes including a fine ruff, similar to the one worn by Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1554-1618) in his portrait by William Segar. However, we can rule out this being a late 16th-century portrait for several reasons.
These include the fact that it lacks an appropriate level of craquelure for a piece so old and also canvases were quite rare in the 16th-century. Plus, if this was a 16th-century canvas, you’d generally expect it to have a coarse man-made weave but this one appears finer and machine-made.
With all the facts considered, we feel that it’s a 19th-century portrait, which is perhaps a copy of an old master. So probably not as old as the gentleman appears but still a wonderful decorative item.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 18” x 23” / 46cm x 58cm
Year of creation: c. 1870
Provenance: England
Condition: It’s been restored professionally, which included a reline and a clean. As you can see, the colours have faded a little over time and there are some light marks in the lower left. Brave Fine Art is a boutique art dealership based in the picturesque Malvern Hills, England. Established in 2017, our clients include private collectors and interiors designers throughout the UK, USA and Canada.
We tend to focus on decorative art that captures the imagination - from monumental 17th-century portraits through to characterful vintage landscapes. Every piece in the collection has an interesting story to tell and we work hard to discover the hidden history behind each one.
You may have seen us mentioned in popular magazines such as Vogue, Livingetc and Homes & Gardens. It’s always exciting to spot a piece we recognise in a beautiful home or place of work.
Do feel free to contact us as we’re always happy to share further information. We also offer a finding service if you’re working on a project for a client or need that special piece for your home.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 2/SEP/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art
> Antique Oil Paintings
Date c. 1870
Late 19th Century Antiques Material Oil Painting on Canvas
Origin English
Item code as951a207
Status Sold
£895.00 
$1177.10 
€1063.35 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 2/SEP/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Shipping information
We're able to ship internationally and offer free delivery throughout the UK, USA, EU & Canada.
Terms and conditions
Please be assured that we inspect every painting, drawing or print to check for issues relating to its condition during its time here with us. When we notice a fault or potential problem, we will note this down on the item's condition report, which can be found within each listing. We take various steps to ensure that your artwork will stand the test of time but we're unable to offer any warranties or guarantees as we're just one custodian in a potentially long line of previous owners.
Our inspections include a check for any signs of woodworm, historic or otherwise, as this is not unusual in antique frames or stretchers. If we discover any small holes, we treat the wood with a solution which states that "its deep penetration ensures effective protection for many years and prevents re-infestation". With this in mind, it's very unlikely that any future issues will occur, especially given that the wood may also have been treated by previous owners. However, as mentioned above, we are unable to provide any warranties or guarantees - just be assured that we care.
Also, many of the paintings include hanging equipment, namely wire or string. Sometimes this is already present when we purchase an item so we check to see if it's been attached correctly. However, we can't test the durability of this equipment as many of the paintings are sold quickly. So please do seek any advice if you're unsure how to hang your paintings correctly, especially if they're heavy, and do check on them from time to time.
If you have any questions at all, please just ask.
Our inspections include a check for any signs of woodworm, historic or otherwise, as this is not unusual in antique frames or stretchers. If we discover any small holes, we treat the wood with a solution which states that "its deep penetration ensures effective protection for many years and prevents re-infestation". With this in mind, it's very unlikely that any future issues will occur, especially given that the wood may also have been treated by previous owners. However, as mentioned above, we are unable to provide any warranties or guarantees - just be assured that we care.
Also, many of the paintings include hanging equipment, namely wire or string. Sometimes this is already present when we purchase an item so we check to see if it's been attached correctly. However, we can't test the durability of this equipment as many of the paintings are sold quickly. So please do seek any advice if you're unsure how to hang your paintings correctly, especially if they're heavy, and do check on them from time to time.
If you have any questions at all, please just ask.
View all stock from
Brave Fine Art
Private dealerBy appointment only
Birmingham
England, UK
Tel : 01684 304487
Non UK callers : +44 1684 304487
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