Lot 77
  • 77

John Michael Wright

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 USD
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Description

  • John Michael Wright
  • Portrait of a Lady
  • three-quarter length, seated in a landscape wearing a yellow gown, picking flowers from a basket held by a putto
  • oil on canvas

Provenance

Beatrice B. Cartwright;
By whose Estate sold, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., March 15, 1957, lot 57 (as School of Peter Lely, Louise de Kerouaille, Portrait of the Duchess of Portsmouth);
There purchased by the Collector's Corner.

Condition

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting has not been restored for a number of years yet seems to be in very healthy state. The canvas has an old glue lining which still seems to be nicely stabilizing the paint layer. The paint layer is extremely dirty and those familiar with Lely's palette, will recognize that this is a picture that will clean considerably. Beneath any dirt layer or old varnish there are no significant restorations immediately apparent. While there may be some spots around the edges and perhaps a couple of small losses, overall and especially for a picture of this period, the condition is remarkably good.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Catalogue Note

John Michael Wright was one of the most distinctive British portraitists of the 17th century, with an exceptionally elegant style as can be seen in this striking portrait of a young lady.  He was born in London, however his family may have been Scottish and he was apprenticed in Edinburgh in 1636 to the portrait painter, George Jamesone.  He went to Rome in the early 1640s where he further improved his painting style and studied to become an antiquary (indeed, he later gained a post as Antiquary to Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in Flanders from 1653-56).  As evidence of his growing reputation as an artist, he was elected to the Accademia di San Luca in Rome in 1648.  Following his return to London in 1656, he established himself as a successful portraitist and received Royal commissions from both King Charles II and King James II.