Portrait of John Gore (C.1689-1763) C.1717; Circle of Michael Dahl (1657-1743)

This exquisite portrait passed from the sitter by direct descent to Sir Andrew George Buchanan, 5th Baronet (born 1937) of Hodsock Priory, Nottinghamshire, until recently. This represents circa 300 years of family ownership. John Gore’s descendants resided at Blyth Hall - an ancient building that is believed to have been in the hands of just three families since the Norman Conquest - and the ancient Hodsock Priory.

It is the archetypal English portrait. In the 18th century, England’s upper classes entered a new era of prosperity. No longer the preserve of royalty, commissioned portraits - of oneself or one’s ancestors - became a coveted symbol of wealth and status. As such portraiture in England developed a distinctive ‘Englishness’ which was a break away from the traditional and dominant schools in France and Italy. This portrait is a sublime example of this restrained but yet engaging portrait style. Held in a fine gilded and carved antique frame.

The sitter is John Gore (c.1689–1763) who was a politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1747 and 1761. He married Hannah Sambrooke in 1717 in London (see attached). Our portrait was probably commissioned to commemorate this event.

Hannah was the daughter of Sir Jeremy Sambrooke, 4th Baronet (c. 1703–1740) and the couple’s main residence was the Sambrooke family seat, Bush Hill Park in Middlesex, although they owned a number of other manors and estates. The couple had a son, John Gore (died in 1746 aged 21), and daughters Judith, Anne, and Catherine. In 1751 Catherine married her cousin, MP Joseph Mellish (c.1717-1790). Anne married Joseph's brother (who was heir to the Mellish family estate at Blyth), MP William Mellish MP (c.1708-1791) (through this marriage our portrait passed into the Blyth collection).

The Gore family were successful merchants. The sitter’s father was Sir William Gore (1644 - 1707) who Lord Mayor of London for 1701-02, a founding Director of the Bank of England in 1694. He resided at Tring Park. Sir William married Elizabeth Gore (nee Hampton) (died 1705). The couple had four sons and four daughters, three sons were all MPs – John, William (c.1675-1739), and Thomas Gore. The Gore family was connected (several times by marriage) to the Mellish family, another successful merchant family, who resided at Blyth. Our sitter’s sister, Dorothea Gore (1683-1738) married Joseph Mellish (1675-1733) who was in a business partnership with out sitter. At the time of writing we also have a portrait of Joseph Mellish. John Gore died 3 Aug 1763.

Blyth Hall - The site of Blyth Priory was abandoned after the dissolution of the monasteries. It was purchased by John Mellish (d 1677). The old priory which was built in 1088 was one of the oldest examples of Norman architecture in the country.

Hodsock Priory was owned through nine generations from the mid-twelfth century by the Cressy family. The estate then passed to the Clifton family and remained in their hands for a further thirteen generations. The house was sold in 1765 to William Mellish (1708-1791).

Bush Hill Park House was an early 18th century brick mansion surrounded by lush gardens. It descended through the Mellish family to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 5th Baronet, who continues to live at Hodsock Priory.

Michael Dahl (1659-1743) was born in Stockholm and was a painter of exceptional talent. In 1698 he was offered the position of painter to the court of the Swedish King, Charles XII, but preferred to stay and settle permanently in London. There, he established an independent studio and by 1700 became the most successful painter in England, second only to Godfrey Kneller.

Provenance: From the sitter and by direct descent to Sir Andrew George Buchanan, 5th Baronet (born 1937) of Hodsock Priory, Nottinghamshire

Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com

In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.

With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.

Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?

• Expertly Curated Selection

We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.

• Museum-Level Research

Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.

• Professional Conservation

All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.

• Transparent Pricing

No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.

• Export Pricing Advantage

Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.

• Specialist Global Shipping

We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.

• Buy with Confidence

A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.

• Original Period Frames

Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.

• Personal Advisory Service

We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.

Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works