Nestled among a 173-lot ‘time capsule’ collection from a Staffordshire estate offered at Hanson’s on January 12, the Old Master picture shown here proved to be the star performer of the sale by some considerable margin.
This imposing work was the talk of the
saleroom after it drew dramatic interest against a £3000-5000
estimate and was knocked down to a London dealer at £62,000.
Catalogued as 'in the manner of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680)', the
portrait had been dated to the last quarter of the 17th century.
There was also a suggestion that it may have been produced in
Lely's studio and even perhaps with some involvement of the master
himself.
The 5ft 6in x 5ft 2in (1.67 x 1.57m) relined
oil on canvas carried an inscription, thought to be in a later
hand, which identified the subjects as The Honourable Francis
and Henry Lennard - the younger brothers of Thomas
Lennard, 15th Lord Dacre and 1st Earl of Sussex.
Lely is known to have painted their parents
in c.1650.
The buyer's premium was 17.5%.
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