- 212
Sir Henry Raeburn R.A., P.R.S.A.
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
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Description
- Sir Henry Raeburn R.A., P.R.S.A.
- Portrait of Anne Blair Maconochie Welwood of Garvock, Lady Meadowbank (1784–1866), half-length, wearing a brown and white dress, with pearl earrings and necklace
- inscribed on the original canvas: Anne / (dau: of Right Honble / Robt Blair of Aventoun / Lord President / by Isabella Cornelia / dau: of Coll C. Halkett of Halhill / + Ann Craigie heiress of / Gamond + Dumbarnie) / wife of Alexr Maconochie Welwood / (born 1787+1866) of Meadowbank + Garvock / Lord Meadowk / Sir Henry Raeburn pinx:
- oil on canvas
Provenance
By descent to the sitter's son, Allan Alexander Maconochie Welwood (1806–85), Meadowbank and Garvock;
Thence by descent to his nephew, John Allan Maconochie Welwood (d. 1934), Kirknewton, Midlothian and Garvock, Fife;
Thence by descent to E. A. Maconochie Welwood, by 1901, from whom acquired by Mr Stevenson Scott;
With Scott & Fowles, New York, inv. no. 589, by 1948, from whom purchased by the present owners.
Thence by descent to his nephew, John Allan Maconochie Welwood (d. 1934), Kirknewton, Midlothian and Garvock, Fife;
Thence by descent to E. A. Maconochie Welwood, by 1901, from whom acquired by Mr Stevenson Scott;
With Scott & Fowles, New York, inv. no. 589, by 1948, from whom purchased by the present owners.
Exhibited
Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, National Galleries, Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A., October – November 1876, no. 73 (lent by Allan Alexander Maconochie Welwood);
London, Grafton Galleries, Winter exhibition of the works of old Scottish portrait painters, 1895, no. 67 (lent by John Allan Maconochie Welwood);
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, International Exhibition, 2 May – 4 November 1901, no. 109 (lent by E. A. Maconochie Welwood).
London, Grafton Galleries, Winter exhibition of the works of old Scottish portrait painters, 1895, no. 67 (lent by John Allan Maconochie Welwood);
Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, International Exhibition, 2 May – 4 November 1901, no. 109 (lent by E. A. Maconochie Welwood).
Literature
W. E. Henley, Sir Henry Raeburn. A selection from his portraits, Edinburgh 1890, unpaginated, cat. no. 10, reproduced;
W. Raeburn Andrew, Life of Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A., London 1894, p. 103, cat. no. 19;
Sir W. Armstrong, Sir Henry Raeburn, London and New York 1901, p. 114 (wrongly described as oval);
J. Greig, Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A. His life and works, London, 1911, p. 39;
A. Graves, A century of loan exhibitions 1813–1912, London 1913 (Bath 1970 ed.), vol. II, pp. 975 and 985, cat. nos 73 and 109.
W. Raeburn Andrew, Life of Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A., London 1894, p. 103, cat. no. 19;
Sir W. Armstrong, Sir Henry Raeburn, London and New York 1901, p. 114 (wrongly described as oval);
J. Greig, Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A. His life and works, London, 1911, p. 39;
A. Graves, A century of loan exhibitions 1813–1912, London 1913 (Bath 1970 ed.), vol. II, pp. 975 and 985, cat. nos 73 and 109.
Condition
The canvas has been lined, the paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is slightly discoloured. Much of the original impasto in her jewellery remains intact. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a milky varnish, which fluoresces opaquely, making it difficult to discern previous restoration. The two upper corners have been retouched, as have some fine lines of craquelure in the sitter's face and neck, as well as an inverted L-shaped scratch in her cheek. The top of her eyes also appear to have been retouched. In overall good condition.
"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
Painted in 1818, this portrait depicts Anne Blair Maconochie Welwood, Lady Meadowbank, the daughter of Robert Blair (1741–1811) of Avontoun, a judge and advocate from West Lothian. On 29 April 1805 she married Alexander Maconochie Welwood, second Lord Meadowbank (1777–1861), eldest son of the eminent Scottish judge Allan Maconochie, first Lord Meadowbank (1748–1816), Midlothian, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Welwood of Garvock and Pitliver, Fife, whose portraits Raeburn also painted.1 Alexander also sat for Raeburn, in 1816.2 His portrait and the present work were undoubtedly treated as a pair, sharing the same provenance up until at least 1901.
1. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (inv. no. 2188), and a private collection, respectively.
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 60.94.1); see K. Baetjer, British paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1575–1875, New York 2009, p. 175, cat. no. 86, reproduced in colour.