Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Antique Male Oil Portrait to the 18th Century.
English School, 18th century.
Painted in oil on wood panel, Raleigh is represented bust length within a painted oval wearing a richly coloured red coat, elaborate white ruff and broad black feathered hat.
The composition relates to the later portrait tradition surrounding the celebrated Lennard Type of Sir Walter Raleigh.
During the 18th century engraved portraits helped transmit Raleigh's established likeness to later generations of British collectors. The present work is consequently best understood as an 18th century historical portrait associated with this established iconographic tradition.
Verso Inventory Mark FY 730
The reverse of the wooden panel bears the historic black stencilled inventory mark FY 730.
The precise source of this identifier remains unidentified. It may relate to a historic private collection, dealer, auction house or other art market inventory system.
The mark is retained as an important provenance research lead. No specific earlier ownership is claimed from FY 730 without supporting archival evidence.
Sir Walter Raleigh
Raleigh was a soldier, courtier, explorer, writer and poet who became one of the defining personalities of Elizabeth I's reign.
Knighted in 1585, he became associated with English overseas exploration and early attempts to establish settlements in North America.
Following the accession of James I, Raleigh spent many years imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he worked upon his History of the World.
Following a final expedition to South America, Raleigh was executed in 1618.
Provenance
Private Southern England collection, according to accompanying documentation.
Woolley and Wallis, Salisbury, Old Masters, British and European Paintings, 5 March 2025, Lot 156, catalogued as English School, 18th Century, Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.
Subsequently loaned & privately exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.
Verso bearing historic black inventory stencil FY 730.
Dimensions
Height 29.5 cm.
Width 24.5 cm.
Depth 3.2 cm.
Condition Report
Fine preserved antique condition. The painted surface displays age related craquelure, foxing and staining together with areas of historic intervention or retouching.
The decorative gilt frame has rubbing, scuffs, surface wear and minor losses consistent with age.
Worldwide shipping available.
Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution
The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale and Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD, recording the artwork's catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.
Attribution and Research
The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.
These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant Ltd has dated this Antique Male Oil Portrait to the 18th Century.
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18th Century Sir Walter Raleigh English School Oil Portrait Lennard Type
