Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1700s.
This provincial portrait of Cornish gentry has a direct, truthful quality often missing in the work of the more sophisticated city followers of Kneller, who often achieved merely a blandly fashionable image devoid of personality.
Provincial she may be, but this lady has emulated the high fashion of the Court in her hair style, the 'undress' robe and her plunging neckline.
Also, rather amusingly, she has adopted a facial expression which one can only presume she thought was sophisticated...one eyebrow raised quizzically and a crooked smile. This wouldbe 'come hither' expression, whilst amusing, is also curiously endearing.
This portrait and another of a lady, probably her sister, (ref. 8853) are from the same Cornish estate where they were for generations...possibly since they were painted. Over the centuries the identities of the sitters were forgotten and the paintings moved into obscurity in little used rooms.
SIZE: 30.25 x 25 inc. frame
PROVENANCE: by descent through a Cornish family.
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 Cornish Lady C.1730; English School
