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18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock
Isherwood Fine Art
for sale €11,115     $12,065
£9,500
Isherwood Fine Art

Isherwood Fine Art

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    16th to 19th century old master, british and european paintings and sculpture, specialising in period portraiture. Member BADA, LAPADA.
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18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock

18th century
Description

Portrait of Johann Quantz (1697-1773), flautist and composer, wearing a blue velvet coat, waistcoat and breeches, standing in a garden landscape with his flute and music on a bench beside him, c.1750.

Johann Joachim Quantz was a flute player and maker and composer at royal courts, being one of the most famous musicians of his day. He was flute teacher to Frederick the Great and composed hundreds of flute sonatas and concertos, including his 'On Playing the Flute', a treatise on flute performance which became a valuable reference for flute playing in the 18th century.

He was born in the village of Oberscheden, in the Electorate of Hanover in Germany. His father was a blacksmith and at the age of 11, after being orphaned, he began an appreticeship in 1708 with his uncle, Justus Quantz, a town musician in Merseburg. At the completion of his apprenticeship Quantz was able to play most of the principle string instruments and the oboe and trumpet.

In 1716 Quantz accepted an invitation to join the town band in Dresden, the capital of Saxony and one of the most important artistic centres in Europe. In 1718 he became oboist to the court of August II, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, but shortly after decided to pursue the flute, studying under the famous French flute player Pierre-Gabriel Buffardin from the Royal Orchestra.

He embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe between 1724 and 1727, with the financial support of the Dresden court, studying with Francesco Gasparini in Rome, meeting Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples, befriending flutist Michel Blavet in Paris and Handel in London.

After a visit to the Prussian court in 1728, the Crown Prince, Frederick of Prussia who had been deeply impressed by Quantz, decided to study the flute and Quantz became his teacher for several visits a year. When Frederick became King in 1740, Quantz accepted a position as flute teacher, maker and composer at the court of Berlin, and he remained in service with Frederick until his death in 1773.

Physical Dimensions
Height
62cm (24.41")
Width
48.5cm (19.09")
Declaration

Isherwood Fine Art has dated this 18th Century Portrait Painting to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1024870
Dealers Notes

Isherwood fine art

Description
Portrait of Johann Quantz (1697-1773), flautist and composer, wearing a blue velvet coat, waistcoat and breeches, standing in a garden landscape with his flute and music on a bench beside him, c.1750.
Johann Joachim Quantz was a flute player and maker and composer at royal courts, being one of the most famous musicians of his day.
Isherwood Fine Art

He was flute teacher to Frederick the Great and composed hundreds of flute sonatas and concertos, including his 'On Playing the Flute', a treatise on flute performance which became a valuable reference for flute playing in the 18th century.

fig 1. An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
fig 1. 18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock

He was born in the village of Oberscheden, in the Electorate of Hanover in Germany. His father was a blacksmith and at the age of 11, after being orphaned, he began an appreticeship in 1708 with his uncle, Justus Quantz, a town musician in Merseburg. At the completion of his apprenticeship Quantz was able to play most of the principle string instruments and the oboe and trumpet.

fig 2. An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
fig 2. 18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock

In 1716 Quantz accepted an invitation to join the town band in Dresden, the capital of Saxony and one of the most important artistic centres in Europe. In 1718 he became oboist to the court of August II, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, but shortly after decided to pursue the flute, studying under the famous French flute player Pierre-Gabriel Buffardin from the Royal Orchestra.

fig 3. An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
fig 3. 18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock

He embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe between 1724 and 1727, with the financial support of the Dresden court, studying with Francesco Gasparini in Rome, meeting Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples, befriending flutist Michel Blavet in Paris and Handel in London.

After a visit to the Prussian court in 1728, the Crown Prince, Frederick of Prussia who had been deeply impressed by Quantz, decided to study the flute and Quantz became his teacher for several visits a year. When Frederick became King in 1740, Quantz accepted a position as flute teacher, maker and composer at the court of Berlin, and he remained in service with Frederick until his death in 1773.

Height
62cm (24.41")
Width
48.5cm (19.09")
Date of Manufacture

Isherwood Fine Art has dated this 18th Century Portrait Painting to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1024870
Isherwood Fine Art
Isherwood Fine Art
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2023

16th to 19th century old master, british and european paintings and sculpture, specialising in period portraiture. Member BADA, LAPADA.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Isherwood Fine Art Profile Page

Trade Associations

Isherwood Fine Art is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA 

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An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
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Archive I An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.

18th Century Portrait Oil Painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, Attributed to Edward Alcock

Archive II An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame. View II
Archive III An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame. View III
Archive IV An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame. View IV
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Isherwood Fine Art
Isherwood Fine Art
Verified Since Oct 2023
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Location: Bath and London, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
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43
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An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
18th century portrait oil painting of the Flautist Johann Quantz, attributed to Edward Alcock
Ref: SA1024870
An 18th-century oil portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue frock coat and standing outdoors beside sheet music, displayed in a carved giltwood frame.
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Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

During the 18th century, formal portraiture focused on detailed costume rendering, relaxed yet refined postures, and naturalistic or classical landscape settings designed to reflect the social standing and pursuits of the sitter.

Georgian portraits were typically created using ground mineral pigments suspended in drying oils, painted onto stretched flax linen canvas and housed in hand-carved timber frames finished with gold leaf over a gesso base.

Authenticity is evaluated through physical indicators including stable age craquelure across the paint surface, evidence of historic hand-loomed canvas, original stretcher construction, and natural oxidisation on the rear timber and frame gilding.

A large-scale historic portrait functions as a primary focal point when hung above a mantelpiece or console, creating contrast against crisp modern plasterwork or harmonising with rich, contemporary dark wall paint.

Canvas paintings require hanging away from direct heat sources, damp areas, and harsh sunlight, while light dust should be removed gently using a dry, soft goat-hair brush without chemical cleaners or liquids.
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