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ANTIQUE #SA1057005

Portrait Of A Lady Seated By A Plinth In A Landscape C.1684/87; Circle Of Willem Wissing (1656-1687), Antique Oil On Canvas Painting

Status: This item has been sold
Sold by: Titan Fine Art

This exquisite grand manner work is an evocative example of the type of portrait in vogue during a large part of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Beautifully composed, the sitter has been depicted three quarter length and seated within the surroundings of a wooded landscape resting her arm on a classical plinth. The classical architecture signifies cultivation and sophistication, and the pastoral background implies a virtuous character undefiled by the possession of great wealth and estates. Her body is enveloped in a luxurious russet cloak and a gauzy green and gold scarf. The clothing – known as “undress” at the time - was popular in portraiture. This, along with the type of portrait, and the style of clothing and hair help to date the portrait to circa 1684/87.
 
The painting abounds with ingenious flourishes and demonstrations of the painter’s skills. A remarkable care is exercised, for example, in the handling of the drapery and the depiction of the hands have been rendered with remarkable confidence and sophistication.
 
In the past it was thought that the sitter was a member of the Fairfax family of York - a long-established Yorkshire Catholic family who owned extensive land and property in the county. Their principal residence was Gilling Castle, 20 miles north of York.
 
Willem Wissing was a Dutch artist who enjoyed a solid artistic training at The Hague under Arnold van Ravesteyn (c.1650-1690) and Willem Dougijns (1630-1697). He came to London in 1676 and most probably joined the studio or Sir Peter Lely as an assistant that same year. After Lely’s death in 1680 he effectively took over his business and he scaled the heights of patronage with extraordinary ease, creating an independent practise in 1687. King Charles II was so impressed by a portrait Wissing painted of his illegitimate son the Duke of Monmouth in 1383 that he commissioned his own portrait. (Royal Collection) and that of his Queen Catherine of Braganza. His polished ...
Antique #SA1057005, shown on this page, originates from the 17th century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
←C17th
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
TITAN FINE ART PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Titan Fine Art
Specialist dealer in portraits from the 17th to the 20th century. All stock is in excellent condition and can be hung & enjoyed immediately.
London
United Kingdom
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
HISTORIC TIMELINE OPTIONS