A Mid-19thC English School Oil on Canvas Portrait of a Gentleman c.1860; Ex Dame Elisabeth Frink

SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Early Victorian
Provenance: The Estate of Dame Elisabeth Frink (1930-1993)
Date: c.1860
Height: 35.25”
Width: 30.75”

The unframed half-length portrait in oils on canvas of a middle to late aged gentleman reading a book held aloft, the whole of good size, the sitter with greying hair, a wiry build and strong facial features, depicting reading to allay an intellectual appearance, wearing a dark blazer and waistcoat to brown trousers, the work surviving from the early Victorian period and Dame Elisabeth Frinks late estate.

The picture is a little dirty and if cleaned would become something different, but it is in this condition that we simply love. There are some small paint losses but nothing overly detrimental; with the canvas edge to the top a little loose; please refer to the photographs for a full visual reference.

The level of skill seen in the painting is certainly well accomplished, this is not an amateurish hand, with the gentleman in question obviously wanting to portray to the viewer that he is well read and of good social standing.

Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink (14 November 1930 – 18 April 1993) was an English sculptor and printmaker known for her preoccupation with naturalistic forms and subject matter. Her Times obituary noted the three essential themes in her work as "the nature of Man; the 'horseness' of horses; and the divine in human form". This painting was among her possessions from her late estate.

A well realised portrait of good size and from a good estate.
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