- 766
Studio of Sir Peter Lely
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- Sir Peter Lely
- Portrait of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland and Countess Castlemaine (1640-1709)
- later inscribed lower centre: Barbara Duchefse of Cleveland
- oil on canvas
Provenance
James Duff, 2nd Earl of Duff (1729-1809), Duff House, Banffshire;
Thence by descent to Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1849-1912), Duff House, Banffshire;
His sale, London, Christie's, 7 June 1907, lot 67, to Gooden & Fox for £231.0.0;
With Los Angeles Fine Art Gallery by 1993.
Thence by descent to Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1849-1912), Duff House, Banffshire;
His sale, London, Christie's, 7 June 1907, lot 67, to Gooden & Fox for £231.0.0;
With Los Angeles Fine Art Gallery by 1993.
Literature
James, Earl of Fife, Catalogue of the Portraits and Pictures in the Different Houses belonging to James Earl of Fife, 1807;
K. Warren Clouston, 'The Duke of Fife's Collection at Duff House', in The Connoisseur, September- October 1994, pp. 3- 9 and 67- 74;
O. Millar, et al., Van Dyck, A complete catalogue of the paintings, New Haven and London 2004, p. 547, under cat. no. IV 150.
K. Warren Clouston, 'The Duke of Fife's Collection at Duff House', in The Connoisseur, September- October 1994, pp. 3- 9 and 67- 74;
O. Millar, et al., Van Dyck, A complete catalogue of the paintings, New Haven and London 2004, p. 547, under cat. no. IV 150.
Condition
The painting appears to be in good condition, with no extant damage or loss of paint. The canvas has been lined and the picture is lighter in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. There are some visible small retouchings in the hand holding the dress, and one or two small flecks in her cheek. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor old retouching in the background, mostly in the lower section of the canvas. There is one area of old retouching, visible to the naked eye, in the lower left, to which there has been more recent work, as well as one in the dark area between the figure and the curtain in the centre right which is less visible. The picture is held in a carved and gilded wooden frame.
To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The most notorious of Charles II's many mistresses, the person, reputation and image of Barbara Villiers dominated both the court and the public imagination during the first ten years of Charles's reign. Painted circa 1670 the composition is based on a portrait of Anne Kirke (1607-1641) by van Dyck (The Huntington Art Gallery, San Marino, California), which was owned by Sir Peter Lely.