Auricular, meaning literally 'of the ear', was a highly stylised free-flowing interpretation of organic forms, usually animal or marine in nature and was fashionable from the 1630s to the 1680s for pictures of all sizes).
A very sensitive and high quality portrait of a young man, hardly more than a boy, his fashionable moustache barely showing, painted at the time of the English Civil War.
Armour was very expensive and was often used in portraiture to depict the wealth and gentlemanly status of the sitter.
However, as this was a deeply troubled time it is likely that the sitter would have been involved in the armed conflict between the King and Parliament.
Which cause he favoured and whether he survived or not is unknown.
THEODORE RUSSELL (1614-1689)
Aliases: Theodore Rousel; Theodore Rousseel; Theodore Roussel; Theodore Russel.
Born in London, his father, Nicasius, was a goldsmith and jeweller, who left Bruges for England about 1573 and settled in the parish of St Anne, Blackfriars, London; his second wife, Theodore’s mother, was the sister of Cornelis Jonson van Ceulen.
The Russells were connected with the Gheeraerts, de Critz and Oliver families. Theodore’s son, Anthony Russell, who provided George Vertue with information concerning 17th-century artists, stated that Theodore had studied under Jonson and van Dyck, had been employed by such patrons as the 3rd Earl of Essex and the 1st Earl of Holland, and ‘was a lover of ease & his Bottle’.
Signed portraits by him are rare. A set of five bust-length portraits at Knebworth House, Herts, includes a male portrait, signed and dated 1644. They are sensitive works in the manner of Jonson.
SIZE: 21.5 x 17 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: By descent through a family of Worcestershire landed gentry.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page
Sold....portrait of a Young Gentleman C.1645; Attributed to Theodore Russell
