Scottish School (16th century)

Scottish School (16th century)
Portrait of Sir Duncan 'Black Duncan' Campbell of Glenorchy (1546-1631) with his coat-of-arms in the top right-hand corner
oil on paper laid on board
16 x 13cm

Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy came from a family of important Highland landowners. The family's main residence was at Balloch (now Taymouth Castle), near Loch Tay. Throughout his life he built and improved many castles, including Finlarig Castle, Loch Dochart Castle and Bacarldine Castle, earning him the nickname 'Duncan of the Castles'. Another, better known nickname given to him was 'Black Duncan of the Cowl'. There is a larger version of this portrait in the National Galleries of Scotland, size 113 x 70cm.

Provenance: W H Lee Two-Day Auction, 30 September and 1 October 1981, lot 606;
Hunsdon House, Hertfordshire.

From The Principal Contents of an East Anglian Estate.
Sold for £320

Condition report:
Unusual construction - appears to be painted in oil, possibly on a finely woven textile or paper. The rectangular outline of the original painting is visible, it has been mounted onto a circular piece of paper which in turn is attached to the end of a book, the marbled end paper is visible on the reverse. There are localised areas of raised and cracked paint. The varnish is thick and obscuring much of the painting. The crest and date at the upper right corner have probably been reinforced with overpaint. Attached to gold mount slip in frame, the painted black edge is worn with losses and the glazing is dirty inside and out.