Circle of Alexis Simon Belle (1688-1766), Prince James Francis Edward Stuart. French School.

An oil on canvas purportedly depicting Prince James Francis Edward Stuart, by the circle of Alexis-Simon Belle (1688-1766) after the similar portrait within the Royal Collection given to King George V by Queen Mary. Alexis-Simon Belle was a favourite of the Stuarts in Paris.

Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (1688-1766) was the only son of the Catholic King James II of England. In 1688, the Protestant-led 'Glorious Revolution' dethroned the king and replaced him with his Protestant daughter, Mary (1662-1694), and her husband William of Orange (1650-1702). Prince James and his father and mother went into exile at the Château Saint-Germain-en-Laye, under the protection of Louis XIV. Later known as the 'Old Pretender', James participated in several unsuccessful plots to reclaim the English throne. In 1712, he left France to establish a court in Rome, where he married Maria Clementina Sobieska (1702-1735). He had two sons: Charles (1720-1788) and Henry (1725-1807), but was never to see a Stuart restoration; the male line died with Henry Stuart in 1807.

The canvas of this work has been lined and the tension is good. The paint layers have a network of age cracks which have been stabilised and flattened through lining; there are old pin prick losses at the junctions of the cracks and areas of retouching across the surface. The varnish is clear and although a little matte with a layer of surface dirt present.

The work is housed in a later gilt frame which shows some light wear commensurate with age to the extremities but remains in a good condition overall.

A well executed and striking work.

Dimensions (framed):-

Height: 80cm

Width: 70cm

Depth: 8cm

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a delivery quote.

PAYMENT

We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. We also offer a 'Pay In 3' payment service through our website.

RETURNS

We are sure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Nonetheless, to ensure you have complete peace of mind, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee.

The purchased item may be returned, in its original condition, within 14 days from receipt. Return carriage costs are the responsibility of the buyer. For larger pieces requiring a specialist courier service, we will arrange your return for you with the cost being deducted from the refund (this cost will never exceed the original charge paid).

We ask that a trackable signature method of shipping is used for the return of smaller items as we cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit.

Should you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.