Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
A charming image of a young boy about to bowl his hoop along the ground.
This excellent portrait has the simple sincerity for which Gordon was noted.
SIR JOHN WATSON GORDON, RA. PRSA. (1788 -1864) was a Scottish portrait painter and a president of the Royal Scottish Academy.
He was born John Watson in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Captain Watson, R.N., a cadet of the family of Watson of Overmains, in the county of Berwick.
Captain Watson was himself a skilful draughtsman, and his brother George Watson, afterwards president of the Royal Scottish Academy, was a highly-respected portrait painter, second only to Sir Henry Raeburn, who was also a friend of the family.
In 1808 John exhibited a picture "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" at the Lyceum in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh - the first public exhibition of paintings in that city - and continued for some years to exhibit fancy subjects; but, although freely and sweetly painted, they were altogether without the force and character which stamped his portrait pictures as the works of a master. After the death of Sir Henry Raeburn in 1823, he succeeded to much of his practice. He assumed in 1826 the name of Gordon to distinguish himself from his two cousins and uncle who were also painting in Edinburgh.
One of the earliest of his famous sitters was Sir Walter Scott, who sat for a first portrait in 1820.
During the last twenty years of his life he painted many distinguished Englishmen who came to Edinburgh to sit to him; and it is significant that David Cox, the landscape painter, on being presented with his portrait, subscribed for by many friends, chose to go to Edinburgh to have it executed by Watson Gordon, although he neither knew the painter personally nor had ever before visited the country.
Gordon was one of the earlier members of the Royal Scottish Academy, and was elected its president in 1850; he was at the same time appointed Limner for Scotland to the Queen, and received the honour of knighthood. Since 1841 he had been an associate of the Royal Academy, and in 1851 he was elected a Royal Academician.
SIZE: 36 x 31 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: Private Collection, South of England.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Sold....portrait of a Young Boy with a Hoop C.1826; Attributed to Sir John Watson Gordon.
