Circle of Mary Beale Portrait of Peter Beavis of Clyst...
The Property of a Lady
Circle of Mary Beale
Portrait of Peter Beavis of Clyst House (1657–1708), Farringdon, Devon, half-length, in a painted stone cartouche
oil on canvas
unframed: 76.7 x 64.2 cm.; 30¼ x 25¼ in.
framed: 94.7 x 82.3 cm.; 37¼ x 32⅜ in.
Condition Report:
The canvas is lined. The paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is clear, but slightly uneven in parts. Around a dozen small white drip marks, of what appears to be paint, can be found in the lower third of the composition. No losses to the paint surface can be noted. A handful of retouchings, that have become slightly discoloured, are visible to the naked eye: these can be observed primarily on the upwards curve of the stone cartouche lower left, on the equivalent position on the right-hand side, in a couple of minute spots in the sitter’s hair and clothing, in the darks just left of his face, beside his cheek, and in one spot towards the upper left corner, close to the lower outline of the stone cartouche. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms these as retouchings, while revealing others scattered throughout the composition close to the left and right margins, over the decoration of the stone cartouche, in the sitter’s face and lace collar decoration, and in a couple of spots in the background. Overall, the painting is in fairly good condition.
Catalogue Note:
Little is known today about Peter Beavis, but since the 16th century, the senior line of the Beavis family had been lords of the manor of Clyst Satchville, Devon. A pair of portraits attributed to Beale, traditionally regarded as likenesses of Richard (1621–1702) and Margarett Beavis,1 née Davie (1627–c. 1717) – Peter's parents – appeared for sale at Bonhams London in 2004.2 The attribution of the pair, however, is not universally accepted. That the style and dimensions of these portraits are so comparable to the present example, particularly in their inclusion of painted stone cartouches and the use of a similar colour palette, suggests that all three pictures originated from the same series.
1 It is possible that the female portrait instead depicts Richard's daughter of the same name.
2 A pair, oil on canvas, each 78 x 65 cm.; London, Bonhams, 8 December 2004, lot 2.
Provenance:
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 9 November 1994, lot 26 (as Mary Beale);
Where acquired by the uncle of the present owner;
Thence by descent.
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The Property of a Lady
Circle of Mary Beale
Portrait of Peter Beavis of Clyst House (1657–1708), Farringdon, Devon, half-length, in a painted stone cartouche
oil on canvas
unframed: 76.7 x 64.2 cm.; 30¼ x 25¼ in.
framed: 94.7 x 82.3 cm.; 37¼ x 32⅜ in.
Condition Report:
The canvas is lined. The paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is clear, but slightly uneven in parts. Around a dozen small white drip marks, of what appears to be paint, can be found in the lower third of the composition. No losses to the paint surface can be noted. A handful of retouchings, that have become slightly discoloured, are visible to the naked eye: these can be observed primarily on the upwards curve of the stone cartouche lower left, on the equivalent position on the right-hand side, in a couple of minute spots in the sitter’s hair and clothing, in the darks just left of his face, beside his cheek, and in one spot towards the upper left corner, close to the lower outline of the stone cartouche. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms these as retouchings, while revealing others scattered throughout the composition close to the left and right margins, over the decoration of the stone cartouche, in the sitter’s face and lace collar decoration, and in a couple of spots in the background. Overall, the painting is in fairly good condition.
Catalogue Note:
Little is known today about Peter Beavis, but since the 16th century, the senior line of the Beavis family had been lords of the manor of Clyst Satchville, Devon. A pair of portraits attributed to Beale, traditionally regarded as likenesses of Richard (1621–1702) and Margarett Beavis,1 née Davie (1627–c. 1717) – Peter's parents – appeared for sale at Bonhams London in 2004.2 The attribution of the pair, however, is not universally accepted. That the style and dimensions of these portraits are so comparable to the present example, particularly in their inclusion of painted stone cartouches and the use of a similar colour palette, suggests that all three pictures originated from the same series.
1 It is possible that the female portrait instead depicts Richard's daughter of the same name.
2 A pair, oil on canvas, each 78 x 65 cm.; London, Bonhams, 8 December 2004, lot 2.
Provenance:
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 9 November 1994, lot 26 (as Mary Beale);
Where acquired by the uncle of the present owner;
Thence by descent.
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Time, Location
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