Master - Sellingantiques.co.uk

Master

Portrait of Thomas Elder of Forneth 1737-1799, Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Post Master General Of Scotland by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823)

oil on canvas 47 x 38in. PROVENANCE : Sale Robinson and Fisher, London 25 Feb 1926 Lot 112 From the estate of R. L. Mark Chambers, Battle Creek, Mich. EXHIBITED : French Gallery, London 1911 ENGRAVED : Richard Earlom Thomas Elder, 1737-1799, lord provost of Edinburgh, was the eldest son of William Elder of Loaning, by his wife Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Man. The date of his birth is not known, but he was baptised on 7 Oct. 1737 (Parochial Registers, county of Perth, Clunie). Elder held the office of chief magistrate of the city (where he carried on the business of a wine merchant) for three different periods, viz. 1788-90, 1792-1794, and 1796-8. He set up as a merchant in Edinburgh, joining the town council, and became master of the Merchant Company in 1779.During his second term of office he took a very active part in suppressing the meetings of the Friends of the People, and without any military aid he broke up the meeting of the British Convention held at Edinburgh on 5 Dec. 1793, and took ten or twelve of the principal members prisoners.On the formation of the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers in the summer of 1794 he became their first colonel, and on 9 Sept. in the same year was voted a piece of plate by the town council ‘for his spirited and prudent conduct while in office, and especially during the late commotions.’ In 1795 Elder was appointed postmaster-general for Scotland. Through his exertions the scheme for rebuilding the college was successfully matured. The foundation-stone of the new buildings was laid during his first mayoralty on 16 Nov. 1789, but they were not completed until after his death, which took place at Forneth, in the parish of Clunie, on 29 May 1799, in the sixty-second year of his age. He was buried in the old church of Clunie on 2 June. In 1765 Elder married Emilia, the eldest daughter of Paul Husband of Logie, an Edinburgh merchant, by whom he left one son and four daughters. His eldest daughter, Isabella, was married on 9 Aug. 1792 to George Husband Baird [q.v.], who afterwards became principal of Edinburgh University.Elder's portrait, by Raeburn, which was painted in 1797 at the request of the principal and professors of the university, is preserved in the court room of the university. It has been engraved by Earlom. A duplicate of this portrait was exhibited at the Raeburn exhibition in Edinburgh in 1876 (Catalogue, No. 210). Two etchings of Elder by Kay will be found in Kay's ‘Original Portraits’ (Nos. 144 and 310).

GOOD QUALITY DECORATIVE C19th OIL PAINTING

A Victorian copy of an Old Italian Master but extremely well painted and equally affordable. Ideal for filling wall space if furnishing a large old house. Has the 'look' but lacks the zeros on the price tag. The canvas has been damaged and restored and is now laid on board. The frame is modern but looks absolutely fine. 37.25" x 32.25"

17th Century Flemish School Old Master Oil

A Flemish school old master oil on canvas dating at least from the 17th century . It is by a follower of the Northern Renaissance painter Henri met de Bles (1510-1555) ,also known as 'Civetta' . Painting : 25"x19'/ 64cmx48cm . It is mounted in a good19th century continental giltwood frame : 31"x25"/ 79cmx64cm . It depicts an atmospheric mountainous landscape with huntsman looking over to a moated castle in a lake . The painting has Henri met de Bles' typical emblem signature of an owl within the painted landscape (civetta meaning owl in Italian where he spent many years and acquired the nickname for this reason) . This owl emblem was not unique to Bles and was also used by other Flemish painters of the period .Good condition with very old relining of canvas . Viewing welcome . Worldwide shipping available .

Pair of Old Master Dutch School 17th C oil paintings by Cornelis van Essen (fl1690-1757)

A very fine pair of 17th century Dutch school paintings of landscape with hunt series by the Old Master genre painter Cornelis van Essen (fl c.1690-1757). They are mounted in their original composition giltwood frames , 21"x19"/ 52cm x 48cm . This pair of paintings have been acquired recently direct from a national museum collection where they were housed for many years . Signed . Full Curator's provenence . Viewing welcome along with further information . Worldwide shipping available.

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