A portrait of a young girl, follower of Andrea Soldi, 18th century

oil on canvas, framed

In fair condition, the canvas relined, areas of restoration and re-varnished, the frame chipped, as viewed.
"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 delicate portrait depicts a young girl holding a peach, playing with a cat and monkey in a background very reminiscent of English gardens of the eighteenth century. She is clearly a member of the nobility as she is wearing a fur mantel and an elaborate dress with a gold and pearl-inset belt, typical of Ottoman fashion at the time.

Andrea Soldi was an Italian painter who worked in Syria and the Levant between 1733 and 1735, moving to England in 1736. During his stay in the Near East he was commissioned to paint several portraits of merchants of the Levant Company, principally young British men distinguished by their adoption of local Turkish costume. All his portraits from this period are characterised by various common features: oval faces, dimpled chins, round tipped noses, long slender fingers and Turkish dress.

The British Levant Company was founded by Royal Charter in 1581 as an institutional joint-stock company responsible for the management of trade between London and the Eastern Mediterranean. Its main centre was Aleppo, but it had several bases across the Middle East, including Smyrna and Constantinople. It was an established convention among the gentlemen of the Levant Company that a successful merchant had his portrait painted immediately before returning to Britain.