English School, 19th century Portrait of man, traditionally identified as...

English School, 19th century
Portrait of man, traditionally identified as John Padbury

oil on canvas
unframed: 76.2 x 63.5 cm.; 30 x 25 in.
framed: 99.5 x 87.5 cm.; 39⅛ x 34½ in.

Condition Report:
The canvas is unlined, the paint surface is dirty and the varnish is discoloured. There are two tears in thecanvas visible along the lower margin, respectively in the left and right corners of the work. The stretchersmarks are visible along all four margins of the work. Inspection under ultraviolet light is impeded by a thickold layer of varnish and reveals an oval-shaped area of restoration is visible in the sitter's left shouldermeasuring approximately 6cm. It also reveals lines or retouching along the fine network of craquelure,concentrated in the background, along the stretcher marks. The picture in in overall moderate condition.

Catalogue Note:
John Padbury was a carriage maker from Speenhamland, Berkshire. This work is sold along a silver medal awarded to the sitter by the Duke of Norfolk in 1813 for the invention of a carriage-wheel guard, by which the wheel is retained safe upon the axis in case of the linch-pin coming out.1

1 For more information about John Padbury's invention see https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14786441408638038