Why are so many sitters unnamed?

Because the names dropped away as pictures left families and passed through sales. Titles on Sellingantiques run to lady, gentleman, young girl, young boy, described by dress, age or occupation. Where a sitter is named, the listing tends to name the family or house as well. Those sit at the top of the range.

What does circle of actually mean?

An unidentified painter working close to the named artist, during that artist's lifetime. It is one of a family of hedges dealers use when the hand isn't certain. After means a copy of a known composition. Follower of means the manner, not necessarily the period. Studio of points at workshop assistants.

Are portraits usually signed?

No. Around one title in twenty says signed, and only about one in fifty says dated. The hedged attributions far outnumber them. Circle, after, attributed, follower and studio together carry well over a thousand titles.

How reliable is a 19th Century date?

Treat it as a bracket rather than a date. Over a thousand listings are filed simply as 19th Century, with several hundred each under 18th and 17th. The dealers' own dating spans 1631 to 1960, though fewer than a third of listings pin a clean year. Expect a circa in the description.

Do animal pictures count as portraits?

They're filed here, yes. Dogs appear in over a hundred titles and horses in ninety-odd, with collies, terriers, racehorses and hunters among them. The archive has also carried a lion, a foxhound, a bull bitch and a racing pigeon under the same heading.

What are miniatures painted on?

Ivory and card are common, but the samples also show oil on copper, celluloid, reverse-painted glass and Italian examples drawn on silk. Many come cased, and some are mounted as pendants or brooches. Miniature appears in 372 titles, roughly one listing in fourteen.

Home > Art > Portraits > Page 17

Antique Portraits

1,886 items · page 17 of 118

← Page 17 of 118 →

A framed likeness of a person, painted or drawn to record who they were, most often an oil on canvas of a sitter nobody has since named.

Portrait of a Lady in a White Silk Dress with Blue Ribbon Bows C.1745–1755; Attributed to Henry Pickering (Fl. C.1740–1771), Oil on Canvas Painting

18th century

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Portrait of a Lady in a White Silk Dress with Blue Ribbon Bows C.1745–1755; Attributed to Henry Pickering (Fl. C.1740–1771), Oil on Canvas Painting

From Titan Fine Art

£6,950

FOR SALE

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"Grandfather's Visit" a Good Oil Painting on Panel

19th century

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"Grandfather's Visit" a Good Oil Painting on Panel

From Quiet Street Antiques of Bath

£485

FOR SALE

art

Mezzotint Portrait the Boy and Pigeons by John Boydell (1720-1804) After Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666)

18th century

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Mezzotint Portrait the Boy and Pigeons by John Boydell (1720-1804) After Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666)

From The Mezzotint Man

£660

FOR SALE

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Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Mary Boynton by James Watson After Francis Cotes.

18th century

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Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Mary Boynton by James Watson After Francis Cotes.

From The Mezzotint Man

£980

FOR SALE

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Capriccio After Francesco Guardi Mediterranean Landscape Oil Portrait Painting Rome Italy

1940 - 1960

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Capriccio After Francesco Guardi Mediterranean Landscape Oil Portrait Painting Rome Italy

From Sale Antiques

£1,200

FOR SALE

art

Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

19th century

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Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

From Period Portraits

£3,800

FOR SALE

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Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Lee by Edward Fisher After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

18th century

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Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Lee by Edward Fisher After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

From The Mezzotint Man

£520

FOR SALE

art

Early Eightheenth Century Northern European School Drawing - Equestrian Study

18th century

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Early Eightheenth Century Northern European School Drawing - Equestrian Study

From The English Interior

£880

FOR SALE

art

Sir James Dromgole Linton (1840-1916) 'Sewing', Watercolour Dated 1870

19th century

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Sir James Dromgole Linton (1840-1916) 'Sewing', Watercolour Dated 1870

From Jeckyll & Co

£275

FOR SALE

art

Bay Hunter by Henry Barraud 1811-1874 Equine Horse Oil Portrait Paintings

19th century

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Bay Hunter by Henry Barraud 1811-1874 Equine Horse Oil Portrait Paintings

From Mansion House Antiques & Fine Art

£7,850

FOR SALE

art

The top sale of the last year on Sellingantiques was a portrait of Elizabeth Wriothesley, Countess of Northumberland, painted around 1665, sold in January 2026.

Portrait of Joseph Mellish (1675-1733) by Charles Jervas (1675-1739) Oil on Canvas

18th century

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Portrait of Joseph Mellish (1675-1733) by Charles Jervas (1675-1739) Oil on Canvas

From Miles Barton Art and Interiors

£8,950

FOR SALE

art

Eugène Verboeckhoven – Resting Shepherd with Sheep and Goat

19th century

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Eugène Verboeckhoven – Resting Shepherd with Sheep and Goat

From Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd

£1,250

FOR SALE

art

Mezzotint Portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Derby - By William Dickinson After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

18th century

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Mezzotint Portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Derby - By William Dickinson After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

From The Mezzotint Man

£840

FOR SALE

art

A Printed Portrait of the Emperor Napoleon C.1900 with Interesting Hand Written Text

1900 - 1920

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A Printed Portrait of the Emperor Napoleon C.1900 with Interesting Hand Written Text

From Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd

£250

FOR SALE

art

Thomas Beach (1739-1806) - Oil on Canvas Portrait of Hannah Hass

18th century

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Thomas Beach (1739-1806) - Oil on Canvas Portrait of Hannah Hass

From Period Portraits

£6,000

FOR SALE

art

Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Enlarged Photo Collectors Print on Board C1950 Vintage Art

1940 - 1960

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Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Enlarged Photo Collectors Print on Board C1950 Vintage Art

From Sale Antiques

£800

FOR SALE

art

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Antique Portraits

Portrait of a Lady in a White Silk Dress with Blue Ribbon Bows C.1745–1755; Attributed to Henry Pickering (Fl. C.1740–1771), Oil on Canvas Painting

"Grandfather's Visit" a Good Oil Painting on Panel

Mezzotint Portrait the Boy and Pigeons by John Boydell (1720-1804) After Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666)

Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Mary Boynton by James Watson After Francis Cotes.

Capriccio After Francesco Guardi Mediterranean Landscape Oil Portrait Painting Rome Italy

Mary Coleman, Henry Sayer and Arthur Coleman Set of Three Regency Oil Portraits on Panel by Joseph Clover Ra (1779-1853)

Mezzotint Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Lee by Edward Fisher After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Early Eightheenth Century Northern European School Drawing - Equestrian Study

Sir James Dromgole Linton (1840-1916) 'Sewing', Watercolour Dated 1870

Bay Hunter by Henry Barraud 1811-1874 Equine Horse Oil Portrait Paintings

Portrait of Joseph Mellish (1675-1733) by Charles Jervas (1675-1739) Oil on Canvas

Eugène Verboeckhoven – Resting Shepherd with Sheep and Goat

Mezzotint Portrait of Elizabeth, Countess of Derby - By William Dickinson After Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A Printed Portrait of the Emperor Napoleon C.1900 with Interesting Hand Written Text

Thomas Beach (1739-1806) - Oil on Canvas Portrait of Hannah Hass

Portrait of Marilyn Monroe Enlarged Photo Collectors Print on Board C1950 Vintage Art

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