- 23
Allan Ramsay
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- Allan Ramsay
- Portrait of Sir George Hay-Makdougall, 3rd Bt. (1705-77), half-length, wearing a red coat over an embroidered waistcoat
- signed and dated lower right: A. Ramsay 1742
- oil on canvas, in a painted oval
Literature
List of Portraits at Fettercairn House, 1924, p. 10 (as 'oval of a man to left in red coat, grey wig white white scarf'; Long Passage).
Condition
The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar Ltd who are external specialists and not employees of Sotheby's:
Structural Condition
The canvas has been lined and this is providing a secure and stable structural support. The
canvas is attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. There is an overall pattern of drying
craquelure and craquelure corresponding to the stretcher bars which appear to be historic and
entirely stable.
Paint Surface
The paint surface has a relatively even varnish layer. Some of the retouchings are slightly
discoloured and therefore visible in natural light. There are a few very small losses
corresponding to the craquelure which are all stable. There are two fly spots on the sitter's
chin which appear to be on the surface of the varnish layers.
Inspection under ultraviolet light shows the varnish layers to be rather thick and discoloured
and also shows retouchings, the most notable of which are:
1) an area of carefully applied scattered thin lines of inpainting mainly corresponding to the
craquelure. This area measures approximately 10 x 4 cm and is to the left of the sitter's neck in
the dark background.
2) An area of similarly scattered, thin lines and spots to the left of the sitter's chest.
3) A small area measuring approximately 1 x 1 cm on the sitter's shoulder.
4) Another small area measuring approximately 1 x 1 cm in the background, 30 cm below the
upper horizontal framing edge and 6 cm in from the right vertical framing edge, and
5) further small spots on the extreme upper horizontal framing edge above the sitter's head.
There are other small scattered retouching, most of which appear to have been very carefully
applied. There may be further retouchings which are not visible under ultraviolet light beneath
the discoloured varnish layers.
Summary
The painting would therefore appear to be in good and stable condition. The retouchings
could be improved and the painting couId benefit from revarnishing. However no further work
is required for purposes of conservation.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."
Catalogue Note
Sir George Hay-MakDougall was the grandfather of Sir William Forbes, 6th Bt. (1739-1806) (see lots 149 and 310). A signed and dated version of this portrait, of 1742, is published as being in the possession of the MakDougall family.1
1. A. Smart, Allan Ramsay, A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings, New Haven and London 1999, pp. 133-34, cat. no. 256, reproduced p. 243, fig. 112.