The Sheldon Master

Commissioned by Ralph Sheldon (1537-1613) of Weston;
By family descent to his great-great-great-grandson William Sheldon (d. 1780) of Weston Park, Long Compton, Warwickshire;
Weston Park sale, Christie and Ansell, 3 September 1781;
Mr and Mrs E.J. de Tracy-Kelly, Audley House School, Chesterton, Oxfordshire;
Audley House School sale, Mallams, 5 April 1995;
With Historical Portraits, from whom aquired by the present owner. 

P. Toynbee, 'Horace Walpole's Journal of Visits to Country Seats', Walpole Society, vol. XVI, London 1928, p. 62;
Vertue Notebooks, vol. I;V, Walpole Society, vol. XXIV, London 1936, p. 140.

STRUCTURE The panel has been cradled at the back. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in fairly good condition, with no flaking or extant loss of paint. There is a discoloured varnish overall, with minor scratches in the lower centre, and visible retouching in the background, upper left. The paint is quite flat and generally abraded, with a number of further visible retouchings overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals four significant areas of retouching. Two in the sitter's hand on the right, in the back of the hand and to the tip of the index finger, one in the adjacent sleave, and one just above the sitter's shoulder, centre right. Furthermore there is a small patch of retouching in the hand, lower left, and another small patch in the centre of the sitter's chest. There is minor hatched retouching in the flesh tones, to the sitter's jaw and cheeks, as well as in the forehead and the bridge of the nose. There are further scattered small retouchings overall, of varying age, from several campaigns of restoration. There is an opaque and discoloured varnish, particularly in the darker areas of the painting. FRAME Held in a rectangular carved and gilded wooden frame, with oak leaf motifs, and a black painted inner slip with an arched top. 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."

This painting was commissioned by Ralph Sheldon as part of a series of portraits of English monarchs for the Long Gallery at Weston Hall, in Warwickshire. A successful tapestry manufacturer, Sheldon's name has traditionally been associated with the distinct hand of the unknown artist who produced these works, in recognition of his patronage. Other known examples from the series include a portrait of Cardinal Wolsey (National Portrait Gallery, London), and a Portrait of King Richard III in the Berger Collection (Denver Art Museum).