Robert Walker and Studio

John Packer (1578-1649), of Donnington Castle (the site of the Battle of Newbury in 1643), a noted Parliamentarian;
By descent to his son, Robert Packer (1614-1682), M.P. for Wallingford;
Thence by descent to the present owner  

STRUCTURE The canvas has been firmly relined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good overall condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint nut there hs been some has been some slight flattening caused by the lining. There is evidence of a discoloured varnish and surface dirt overall, the latter should be treatable with distilled water. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the opacity of the varnish and reveals some old minor retouching concentrated in the shadows in the upper left, the hair and the armour. The painting would appear to be relatively untouched but the varnish make confirmation of this difficult. FRAME Held in a giltwood frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A rare portrait of one of the most important military commanders of the Civil War, the sitter was born in Denton, North Yorkshire. Though Fairfax studied at Cambridge he went on to become one of England's most influential military commanders. In 1639 he was knighted by the King for his services in Charles I's campaign against the Scots. However, with the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642,  Fairfax sided with the government and joined the Parliamentary forces, playing an important role in the defeat of the Royalist army at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. In 1645 Parliament appointed him joint Commander-in-Chief with Oliver Cromwell, in charge of the cavalry, and it was Fairfax's military genius which moulded the New Model Army into a disciplined fighting force. It was this army, under the command of Fairfax, that inflicted a crushing defeat on the Royalists at Naseby in June 1645, the decisive battle of the war. 

Despite his allegiance to Parliament during the war Fairfax opposed the execution of Charles I in 1649, and the following year resigned his command in protest at Cromwell's campaign against Scotland. He withdrew from public life until 1660, when he supported General Monck in his successful attempt to restore Charles II to the throne. The present painting appears to relate to the portrait miniature of Fairfax by John Hoskins (1595-1664) dated 1650, which is in the collection at Leeds Castle.