Circle of Francois-Xavier Fabre

Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as Henry Swinburne (1743-1803), three-quarter-length, seated at a table with a quill and musical manuscript, holding a violin

Lot Closed

January 18, 05:01 PM GMT

Estimate

1,500 - 2,500 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from the Berkeley Collection at Spetchley Park

Circle of Francois-Xavier Fabre

Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as Henry Swinburne (1743-1803), three-quarter-length, seated at a table with a quill and musical manuscript, holding a violin

oil on canvas

unframed: 91.9 x 71 cm.; 36 ⅛ x 28 in.

framed: 109.1 x 89.4 cm.; 43 x 35 ¼ in.

Inventory [...] Spetchley Park, 1893, listed in the 'Corridors and Landing';

Inventory and Valuation of the furniture and effects at Spetchley Park, Worcester, The Property of R.G. Berkeley, Esquire, December 1949, listed in 'The Grand Staircase cont'd.', p. 130 (as Unknown).

Henry Swinburne was a travel writer who wrote accounts of journeys to Spain, the two Sicilies, and France. While abroad it would not have been unusual for such an aristocrat to have picked up some musical culture, and indeed the sitter here appears to be in the act of composition. Swinburne's granddaughter, Henrietta Sophia Benfield, married Robert Berkeley (1794-1874) on 24 January 1822.