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ID #SA1239739
FOR SALE
£1,450
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Portrait of a Gentleman Holding a Skull, C.1720
For sale by Harrington Antiques
for sale €1,697     $1,842
£1,450
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2021
Browse dealers 75 items
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Portrait of a Gentleman Holding a Skull, C.1720

18th century
Description

An early 18th century portrait of a gentleman, possibly an actor, within a painted oval resting his hand on a skull upon his lap, c.1720.

Well executed and of good proportions. Unframed with some light scuffs in areas but generally presents very well indeed. Relined.

An intriguing portrait.

Provenance: Private collection of the late Howard Godfrey (1938-2019), fine art dealer of over 30 years.

Dimensions:-

Height: 77cm

Width: 63.5cm

Depth: 2cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Physical Dimensions
Height
77cm (30.31")
Width
63.5cm (25.00")
Depth
2cm (0.79")
Declaration

Harrington Antiques has dated this Georgian Memento Mori Portrait to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1239739
Dealers Internal Reference
8000
Dealers Notes

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We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. We also offer a 'Pay In 3' payment service through our website.

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We are sure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Nonetheless, to ensure you have complete peace of mind, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee.

The purchased item may be returned, in its original condition, within 14 days from receipt. Return carriage costs are the responsibility of the buyer. For larger pieces requiring a specialist courier service, we will arrange your return for you with the cost being deducted from the refund (this cost will never exceed the original charge paid).

We ask that a trackable signature method of shipping is used for the return of smaller items as we cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit.

Should you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Description
An early 18th century portrait of a gentleman, possibly an actor, within a painted oval resting his hand on a skull upon his lap, c.1720.

Well executed and of good proportions. Unframed with some light scuffs in areas but generally presents very well indeed. Relined.

fig 1. An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull.
fig 1. Portrait of a Gentleman Holding a Skull, C.1720

An intriguing portrait.

“
Provenance: Private collection of the late Howard Godfrey (1938-2019), fine art dealer of over 30 years.
Harrington Antiques

Dimensions:-

Height: 77cm

Width: 63.5cm

Depth: 2cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Height
77cm (30.31")
Width
63.5cm (25.00")
Depth
2cm (0.79")
Date of Manufacture

Harrington Antiques has dated this Georgian Memento Mori Portrait to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1239739
Dealers Internal Ref
8000
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2021

Antiques & decorative interior pieces.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Harrington Antiques Profile Page

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An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull.
1 / 5
Archive I An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull.

Portrait of a Gentleman Holding a Skull, C.1720

Archive II An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull. View II
Archive III An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull. View III
Archive IV An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull. View IV
Archive V An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques
Telephone 07552 767190
Location
Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
Items For Sale 75
Items Sold 844
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified
Mar 2021
For Sale
75
Sold
844
An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull.
Portrait Of A Gentleman Holding A Skull, c.1720
Ref: SA1239739
An early eighteenth-century oil portrait of a gentleman in a wig and brown coat with his hand resting on a skull.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectOil Paintings
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialOil Paint, Canvas, Wood Stretcher
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsSkull motif, Powdered wig, Chiaroscuro lighting, Velvet coat
  • SizeH 77 cm (30 in) x W 63.5 cm (25 in) x D 2 cm (1 in)

This eighteenth-century oil painting depicts a gentleman in a powdered wig and a dark brown velvet coat, wearing a white ruffled cravat. The portrait utilizes chiaroscuro lighting, setting the figure against a dark background within a painted oval, while his hand rests on a human skull. The canvas is stretched over wood, is unframed, and shows light scuffs in areas along with relining. The artwork measures 77 cm high, 63.5 cm wide, and 2 cm deep. Suitable for placement above the mantel in a gentleman's library, this oil painting brings historical character to traditional interior schemes. The dark brown tones of the coat and background complement period-style decor, while the skull motif provides a striking memento mori theme. The piece is ready to hang in a domestic interior without a frame, offering a glimpse into eighteenth-century portraiture traditions.

FAQs

A memento mori portrait incorporates symbolic elements, such as a human skull, to remind the viewer of mortality. Originating in medieval and Renaissance traditions, these compositions remained prominent through the early eighteenth century, blending personal portraiture with philosophical themes.

Artists during this era predominantly worked with oil paint on hand-woven flax canvas or linen, stretched over wooden keyable stretchers. Pigments were manually ground and mixed with drying oils such as linseed or walnut oil before application.

Authentic period paintings typically display natural age-related craquelure across the paint layer, timber stretcher oxidation, and hand-stitched or woven canvas edges. Examination under ultraviolet light often reveals historical varnish layers and localized restoration.

A classical portrait acts as a focal point when positioned above a fireplace mantel or embedded within a gallery wall. Combining dark period artwork with muted architectural paint colours and minimal modern framing highlights the subjects historical context.

Oil paintings require placement away from direct sunlight, radiators, and areas with fluctuating humidity. Dusting should be executed gently with a dry, soft-bristled brush, while surface cleaning and structural stabilization should only be performed by a professional conservator.
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