What characterises Regency period portrait paintings?

Regency portraiture, dating from the early 19th century, is recognised for realistic human depiction, dramatic lighting, and refined attention to fashion details like high collars, cravats, and lace bonnets.

What materials were traditionally used for 19th-century portrait paintings?

Artists during this era typically painted using oil pigments applied to stretched linen canvas or solid timber panels, complemented by heavy carved gesso and giltwood frames.

How can you verify an authentic oil painting on panel from this era?

Authentic period panel paintings usually display natural age-related craquelure, authentic timber oxidation on the reverse, hand-carved frame joinery, and evidence of historical pigment layering.

How do you style antique oil portraits in modern interiors?

Historical portraits can be styled as focal points above a sideboard or console, arranged in a staircase gallery wall, or paired with minimalist contemporary furniture to create visual contrast.

How should giltwood framed oil paintings be cleaned and maintained?

Keep paintings away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity. Dust frames gently with a soft dry brush, avoiding water, solvents, or abrasive cleaning products on the gilded gesso.

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Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

Name: Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1228411
Price: 4200 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Period Portraits

Description

Three fine oil on panel portraits of Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman by the celebrated Norwich school artist and Royal Academician Joseph Clover RA (1779-1853)

Mary Coleman came from a prosperous branch of Norfolk millers and landowners and she married Henry Sayer in Norfolk (circa 1815-1820) and this (slightly smaller) pair of oil paintings may have been commissioned after their wedding to permanently anchor their status as a newly unified, wealthy landowning family.

Subsequently when Mary’s father passed away, his will contained a strict ‘Name and Arms Clause’ which dictated that for their son, Arthur Sayer, to inherit his maternal family's extensive property, capital, and milling investments, he was legally required to drop his paternal surname.

Arthur filed a formal petition with the Crown for a Royal License for a Change of Name. Upon approval, he legally renounced the surname Sayer and became known for the rest of his life across all commercial banking and land registry logs as Arthur Coleman (Mr. A. Coleman). This specific legal inheritance split the names, leaving the parents ‘framed’ as the Sayers, while their son legally operated under the Coleman banner.

The composition of this painting provides a direct window into Arthur Colemans societal status and his connections to Norfolk industry as the folded paper that he holds (a letter, title deed, or legal charter) is a detail painted to underscore his literacy, civic authority, and wealth as a member of one of Norfolk's affluent agricultural and merchant families.

Joseph Clover (baptised 19 September 1779 – 28 April 1853) Joseph Clover was an English portrait painter and a member of the Norwich School of painters He was born in Aylsham, in the English county of Norfolk, one of the twelve children of Thomas and Ann Clover, who owned a drapery business in the town. Few details of his early years are known. He was engaged to be married, but his fiancée, a local girl, died in 1801. He started his career as an engraver but was inspired to turn to portrait painting when the artist John Opie painted one of his relatives, he became Opie's pupil, and studied under him for four years. His paintings often use a generous amount of paint, handled freely in a fashion that was also characteristic of Opie.

Clover inherited property and was paid well for his commissioned works. He lived an uneventful and comfortable life, mainly in London, where he was a prominent member of the Swedenborgian New Church. In 1809, he was selected to portray three of the mayors of Norwich, the decision based in part on his works exhibited at the Royal Academy that year. In 1811, he staged an exhibition of his works in Norwich. Although celebrated during his lifetime as a portrait painter, Clover also produced accomplished landscape paintings for his own pleasure.Provenance: Private collection Washington State.

Higher resolution images on request.

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Mary Coleman and Henry Sayer

Panels: 38cm x 46cm.

Framed: 63cm x 72cm.

Arthur Coleman

Panels: 41cm x 54 cm.

Framed: 67cm x 80cm.

Price: £4200

Physical Dimensions

Height

72cm (28.35")

Width

63cm (24.80")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Period Portraits has dated this Regency Oil Portraits Set to the Regency era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1228411

Description

Three fine oil on panel portraits of Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman by the celebrated Norwich school artist and Royal Academician Joseph Clover RA (1779-1853)

Mary Coleman came from a prosperous branch of Norfolk millers and landowners and she married Henry Sayer in Norfolk (circa 1815-1820) and this (slightly smaller) pair of oil paintings may have been commissioned after their wedding to permanently anchor their status as a newly unified, wealthy landowning family.

fig 1. A set of three 19th-century Regency oil portraits painted on wood panels, housed in elaborate, heavily carved giltwood frames. — fig 1. Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

Subsequently when Mary’s father passed away, his will contained a strict ‘Name and Arms Clause’ which dictated that for their son, Arthur Sayer, to inherit his maternal family's extensive property, capital, and milling investments, he was legally required to drop his paternal surname.

Arthur filed a formal petition with the Crown for a Royal License for a Change of Name.

“

Upon approval, he legally renounced the surname Sayer and became known for the rest of his life across all commercial banking and land registry logs as Arthur Coleman (Mr.

Period Portraits

A. Coleman). This specific legal inheritance split the names, leaving the parents ‘framed’ as the Sayers, while their son legally operated under the Coleman banner.

fig 2. A set of three 19th-century Regency oil portraits painted on wood panels, housed in elaborate, heavily carved giltwood frames. — fig 2. Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

The composition of this painting provides a direct window into Arthur Colemans societal status and his connections to Norfolk industry as the folded paper that he holds (a letter, title deed, or legal charter) is a detail painted to underscore his literacy, civic authority, and wealth as a member of one of Norfolk's affluent agricultural and merchant families.

fig 3. A set of three 19th-century Regency oil portraits painted on wood panels, housed in elaborate, heavily carved giltwood frames. — fig 3. Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

Joseph Clover (baptised 19 September 1779 – 28 April 1853) Joseph Clover was an English portrait painter and a member of the Norwich School of painters He was born in Aylsham, in the English county of Norfolk, one of the twelve children of Thomas and Ann Clover, who owned a drapery business in the town. Few details of his early years are known. He was engaged to be married, but his fiancée, a local girl, died in 1801. He started his career as an engraver but was inspired to turn to portrait painting when the artist John Opie painted one of his relatives, he became Opie's pupil, and studied under him for four years. His paintings often use a generous amount of paint, handled freely in a fashion that was also characteristic of Opie.

fig 4. A set of three 19th-century Regency oil portraits painted on wood panels, housed in elaborate, heavily carved giltwood frames. — fig 4. Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

Clover inherited property and was paid well for his commissioned works. He lived an uneventful and comfortable life, mainly in London, where he was a prominent member of the Swedenborgian New Church. In 1809, he was selected to portray three of the mayors of Norwich, the decision based in part on his works exhibited at the Royal Academy that year. In 1811, he staged an exhibition of his works in Norwich. Although celebrated during his lifetime as a portrait painter, Clover also produced accomplished landscape paintings for his own pleasure.Provenance: Private collection Washington State.