Theodore Russell

Probably Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St. Albans (c.1604-1684);
by descent at Rushbrooke Hall, Suffolk, until sold, Knight Frank and Rutley, December 10^th & 11^th 1919, lot 138.

STRUCTURE All on single piece, slightly bowed panels. PAINT SURFACE All appear to be in very good condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint. There is some very very minor movement to the pigments in the background of the last, however this has not resulted in any paint loss our change in outward appaearance. ULTRAVIOLET The first: Examination under ultravolet light reveals minor vertical retouching to the face and upper chest. There is also retocuhing to an old repaired diagonal crack measuring approx. 10 in. from the panel edge. The second: Examination under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to the face and upper chest. There is also retouching concrentrated on her neck and right shoulder. The third: There is some old retouching above the sitter's left shoulder and some very minor scattered retouching to the background, face and upper chest. The fourth: Examination under ultrviolet light reveals heavy retouching to the background in the upper right and to a lesser extent to thesitter's right shoulder. However there is only scattered retocuhing elsewhere, tothe background, the sitter's face and upper chest. FRAME Held in a in carved and gilt wood frames. 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."

The present portraits belong to a clearly defined group of small scale panel paintings, mostly after van Dyck. Comparable sets by the same artist are in the Royal Collection, and also at Knole and Woburn.  The full length van Dyck originals of the portraits of Dorothy, Countess of Leicester, and Anne, Countess of Middlesex, are both at Petworth, whilst the portrait of Lady Anne Rich is based on a prototype in the collection of Mr & Mrs William D. Graue (Dallas, Texas). The portrait of Mary Kirk, however, appears to be an original composition.

The present set were formerly in the collection of the Jermyn family at Rushbrooke Hall, and were most likely commissioned by Henry Jermyn, 1^st Earl of St. Albans, a close confidant of Queen Henrietta Maria.