Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1700s.
This is a sensitive and honest portrait of the sitter; she has not been depersonalised into a fashionable society doll. It feels to be a true likeness.
The identity of the sitter has been lost, although a clue may lie in the scroll she holds which shows the profile of a gentleman depicted in a Classical cameo with the initials P.W. Research has, so far, failed to come up with an identity.
"I think it is possible to attribute the picture to Hudson, or possibly a very competent follower. The strong full bodied British face is certainly what we would expect from him.
I investigated the Jervas attribution, but, I am certain that it's not him. Jervas just didn't paint faces as convincingly as yours, plus, he had no talent or interest for lace or drapery - which is certainly found in yours.
It was Hudson who was most interested in giving his sitters little props and scrolls to hold, Jervas or his other contemporaries didn't seem to do this very often at all." Adam Busiakiewicz, art historian.
THOMAS HUDSON (1701 – 26 January 1779) was an English portrait painter.
Hudson was born in Devon in 1701.His exact birthplace is unknown. He studied under Jonathan Richardson in London and against his wishes, married Richardson's daughter at some point before 1725.
Hudson was most prolific between 1740 and 1760 and, from 1745 until 1755 was the most successful London portraitist.
He had many assistants, and employed the specialist drapery painter Joseph Van Aken. Joshua Reynolds, Joseph Wright and the drapery painter Peter Toms were his students.
SIZE: 50 x 40 inches canvas.
59.75 x 49.25 inches inc.frame.
PROVENANCE: Private Collection, Southern England.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1700s.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of a Lady in Blue C. 1730, Probably by Thomas Hudson.
