How do I date an old portrait?

Dating relies on examining the sitter's costume, hairstyle and collar design, which changed rapidly across the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Material analysis of the canvas, stretcher frames and underlying gesso provides further chronological clues.

What is an after-master painting?

An after-master painting is a later copy executed in the style of a famous historical artist, such as Gainsborough or Da Vinci. These works were often painted for study purposes or to replicate celebrated compositions for private collections.

How should I hang an oil painting?

Oil paintings require secure wall fixings suited to the combined weight of the heavy canvas and wooden or giltwood frame. Placement should avoid direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity to protect the paint layer and prevent wood warping.

Are all antique portraits identified?

Many historic portraits depict sitters whose names were lost over successive generations, leaving them recorded simply as anonymous ladies or regional beauties. Inscribed frames, canvas inscriptions or historical archives sometimes preserve the identity of the person portrayed.