Lot 23
  • 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."

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.