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Brave Fine Art
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At. Richard Livesay, Portrait Of A Navy Lieutenant
An early 19th-century half-length portrait of a British Royal Navy Lieutenant dressed in full uniform. The subject stands before a distant three-masted sailing ship, possibly a ‘seventy-four’.
Richard Livesay (c.1750-c.1823) had a fascinating and varied career, but little is known about him when compared to his contemporaries Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) and Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792).
Early records cite him as lodging with the widow of William Hogarth (1697-1764) for whom he created many engravings and etchings after Hogarth’s drawings.
He later became a pupil of Benjamin West (1738-1820) and this relationship may have helped him to secure multiple commissions from King George III. These include a beautiful work depicting his future daughter in law, Frederica, Princess Royal of Prussia, which is in the Royal Collection.
But aside from his larger more conspicuous works, he also completed numerous small, often bust-length, portraits that were characterised by their playfulness and sense of theatre.
Many of these were created during his time in Portsea, where he worked as drawing master to the Royal Naval College. Notable subjects include James Caulfield, the Earl of Charlement, and Captain Richard Grindall. These can be viewed in the National Gallery, London, and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, respectively.
This painting is housed within a period giltwood frame and there are various inscriptions on the reverse, along with two partial collector’s seals. One of the inscriptions refers to the artist George Lance (1802-1864), a well-known painter of still life and portrait miniatures. Having considered Lance’s style, it’s unlikely that this portrait is by him and entirely plausible that his name has been added during the 19th century in an effort to upgrade the work. There are records of this occurring on another Livesay painting from a similar period.
Medium: Oil on panel
Size including frame: 14” x 12” / 36.5cm x 31cm x 3cm
Year of creation: c. 1805 - c. 1820
Condition: One small area of paint loss towards the bottom of the painting and two further areas on the periphery. Craquelure. Frame with various scuffs, losses and age-related wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £5,000 reached at Sotheby’s in 2011 for ‘Two Springer Spaniels in a Rocky Landscape’. 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
Richard Livesay (c.1750-c.1823) had a fascinating and varied career, but little is known about him when compared to his contemporaries Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) and Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792).
Early records cite him as lodging with the widow of William Hogarth (1697-1764) for whom he created many engravings and etchings after Hogarth’s drawings.
He later became a pupil of Benjamin West (1738-1820) and this relationship may have helped him to secure multiple commissions from King George III. These include a beautiful work depicting his future daughter in law, Frederica, Princess Royal of Prussia, which is in the Royal Collection.
But aside from his larger more conspicuous works, he also completed numerous small, often bust-length, portraits that were characterised by their playfulness and sense of theatre.
Many of these were created during his time in Portsea, where he worked as drawing master to the Royal Naval College. Notable subjects include James Caulfield, the Earl of Charlement, and Captain Richard Grindall. These can be viewed in the National Gallery, London, and the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, respectively.
This painting is housed within a period giltwood frame and there are various inscriptions on the reverse, along with two partial collector’s seals. One of the inscriptions refers to the artist George Lance (1802-1864), a well-known painter of still life and portrait miniatures. Having considered Lance’s style, it’s unlikely that this portrait is by him and entirely plausible that his name has been added during the 19th century in an effort to upgrade the work. There are records of this occurring on another Livesay painting from a similar period.
Medium: Oil on panel
Size including frame: 14” x 12” / 36.5cm x 31cm x 3cm
Year of creation: c. 1805 - c. 1820
Condition: One small area of paint loss towards the bottom of the painting and two further areas on the periphery. Craquelure. Frame with various scuffs, losses and age-related wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £5,000 reached at Sotheby’s in 2011 for ‘Two Springer Spaniels in a Rocky Landscape’. 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 12/NOV/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. 1805 - c. 1820
Early 19th Century Antiques Material Oil Painting on Panel
Origin English
Item code as951a003
Status Sold
£895.00
$1142.38
€1076.69
$
€
Conversion rates as of 12/NOV/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
By appointment only
Birmingham
England, UK
Tel : 01684 304487
Non UK callers : +44 1684 304487
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