What is a figured oil portrait?

A figured oil portrait is a painting centred on a human subject created using oil-based pigments on canvas or wood. These artworks record the likeness, status or character of individuals from history, ranging from formal nobility to informal genre studies.

How do I date an antique oil portrait?

Dating relies on examining the stretcher construction, the weave of the canvas, the composition style and the surrounding frame. Costume details, hair styling and the pigments used in the paint layer also provide strong chronological clues for the expert.

How should I care for oil paintings?

Oil paintings require stable indoor humidity and protection from direct sunlight to prevent the canvas from slackening and the pigments from fading. Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry brush and avoid using liquid cleaners on either the paint layer or the gilt frame.

What does circle of an artist mean?

The term circle of indicates that an anonymous painter produced the work while closely associated with a known master's studio. Such pieces share the technical methods, palette and aesthetic approach of the named artist without being painted by their own hand.