Circle of John Michael Wright (1617-1694)

Circle of John Michael Wright (1617-1694) Portrait of a gentleman, believed to be Edward Herbert, 3rd Baron Herbert of Chirbury (1633-1678) inscribed 'Edwardus Herbert, Baro de / Cherbury. / Ob. 1678.' (above the sitter) oil on canvas 91 x 79cm

Provenance: Collection of Mike Handford, 'Hillsleigh', Burford, Oxfordshire

The sitter joined the royalist uprising under Sir George Booth, when he declared for Charles II in Cheshire in 1659, and suffered a short imprisonment. At the Restoration he was made custos rotulorum of Montgomeryshire (Powys) in 1660 and Denbighshire in 1666. He married twice, but died childless. From his youngest sister Florentia, co-heir of the sitter's brother Henry, 4th and last Lord Herbert, are descended the present Earls of Powis.

Framed 103.5 x 91.5cm The painting is executed in oil on a canvas support which has been lined. The lining canvas is starting to delaminate at the corners. There are stretcher bar marks present across the centre of the portrait. The paint layer is generally in a good, stable condition, apart form the upper right quadrant where there is localised flaking with scattered losses. The varnish layer has degraded, becoming yellowed and dull. The varnish is no longer adequately saturating the paint layers below. There are several scuffs and scratches across the surface. Areas of overpaint are evident in the sitter’s face as small touches which have darkened. The extent of the overpaint across the surface is difficult to determine due to the old varnish. There is a thick layer of surface dirt present on the front and reverse of the picture.