Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
The sitter, Benjamin Haworth, is shown in a pose very fashionable at that time...that of a sporting country gentleman, with his dog and fowling piece.
They were timber merchants and extensive landowners, some of them Baronets.
The Blaydes and the Booths were rich and powerful merchant families who had married into the Haworths. Like the aristocracy these wealthy merchants married within their peers, always with an eye on increasing their wealth and power.
BENJAMIN HAWORTH was born in 1728, son of Thomas Haworth (also on this website) and Mary Blaydes, daughter of Benjamin Blaydes.
Benjamin Haworth married Anne, daughter of John Booth, in 1756. Their son Benjamin Blaydes Haworth (also on this website) was born in 1763 and became Sheriff of Hull in 1813.
Benjamin died in 1798.
ALLAN RAMSAY 1713–1784.
Ramsay was born in Edinburgh. His father, also Allan Ramsay, was an important Scottish poet from whom the younger Ramsay inherited a tradition of strong nationalistic pride. Ramsay junior was instrumental in formulating a native Scottish style of painting, as his father had done for poetry.
Ramsay studied in London at St Martin's Lane Academy and at Hans Hysing's studio, before going to Italy. He worked from 1736 to 1738 at the French Academy in Rome under Francesco Imperiali and under Francesco Solimena in Naples. On his return he settled in London, although he continued to be active in Edinburgh. Between 1754 and 1757 he was in Italy, mostly in Rome. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1743. During his prime period he had a virtual monopoly on court painting. He became the official painter to George III in 1760, and Principal Painter-in-Ordinary in 1767. His assistants included David Martin, Alexander Nasmyth and Philip Reinagle.
SIZE: 49.75 x 41 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: Haworth Hall, then by descent in the family to a branch which settled in Oxfordshire. Deceased estate.
Verso: old handwritten label identifying the sitter.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of Benjamin Haworth C. 1750; Circle of Allan Ramsay.
