Sold....portrait of a Scottish Nobleman 1627; by Adam De Colone

Oil on canvas in reproduction 'cassetta' frame of the correct type.

The canvas inscribed u.l. 'Aetatis. 29. / 1627'.

The form of the inscription is so specific to Adam de Colone as to be as reliable as a signature for the purposes of attribution.

At this period de Colone's work was in its fullest flowering, showing great subtleties of character in the sitters . This sensitivity was denied to many of his contemporaries.

This is a high quality portrait of a young man, almost certainly a member of the Scottish nobility, wearing a fine slashed doublet with expensive 'reticella' lace to collar and cuffs; his silk doublet and fine lace are indications of wealth and status and are carefully depicted.

In a period when black clothing was the fashion artists strove to depict the different nuances and textures of the fabrics as convincingly as possible.

They found that black is an ideal background with which to contrast the crisp white linen and rich lace and this dramatically accentuates the face and hand gestures. This extreme opposition between black and white is both austere and exciting, and is a characteristic feature of portraiture of this period.

The sitter's gold brocade sword belt adds a further touch of the dramatic.

ADAM DE COLONE (painting c.1613-1628) was a portraitist of Scottish sitters. He was born in Edinburgh (probably c.1593), son of Adriaen Vanson (James VI's Court Painter) and Susanna de Colone; he trained in the Netherlands in the tradtion of Miereveld. He returned to Scotland c.1622 and painted two portraits of King James in 1623, for which he was paid £60.

Colone has been identified as the painter of 23 portraits of Scottish upper nobility, one of which, 'George, 3rd Earl of Winton and his two sons', is associated with a payment to 'Adame the painter'; this is his finest portrait and can be seen in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, along with portraits of 'Anne Hay' and 'James VI'.

His earliest known portrait is a three-quarter length on panel of Sir William Stewart of Grantully of 1613, sold a few years ago at auction in Edinburgh to the art trade for £53,000.

The latest dated of his portraits is 1628, after which there is no further evidence of him.

Colone's work provided both competition and example to George Jamesone.

SIZE: 24.75 x 19.75 inches canvas size

33 x 28 inches frame size

Verso: old collection, exhibition and storage labels

PROVENANCE: Acquired from Shepherd Bros. in December 1912 by T.W. Bacon (1863-1950).

At East Riddlesden Hall 1962-99.

Sold by his executors in 2000.

A Private Collection 2000 - 2008

EXHIBITED: Loaned to the Union Club, Manchester 1950-1954.

Loaned to the National Trust for display at the 17th c. East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire from 1962 to 1999.