Superb large 18th century English old master portrait of a gentleman. The sitter has been depicted wearing a blue coat with gold buttons and elaborate brocade sleeves and waistcoat. His powdered wig is fashionably tied with a black bow at the back, and his tricorn hat is placed under his left arm.The portrait is in excellent condition having recently been sensitively and lightly cleaned. This process has removed years of discoloured varnish and debris and now reveals the true colour and the fine brushwork of the artist. This is the work of the extremely talented painter, John Vanderbank who had an important impact on English art, and is accredited with the introduction of the living model and drawing classes for promising students such as Hogarth and Highmore. According to Vertue he “…would have carried all before him after the death of Kneller had it not been for his dissipated way of life”. Had Vanderbank not lived such a careless life of debauchery, it has been said that h...