George Garrard

Large Spaniel Standing in a Landscape

Circa 1785

A 17th century English portrait of a lady by Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), half-length in a painted feigned oval, wearing a green silk gown with chestnut coloured cloak over one shoulder, her fair hair curled in the fashionable ringlet style of the period. Oil on canvas in an English giltwood 'Lely' frame. We are grateful to Diana Dethloff and Catharine MacLeod (who are currently working on a Lely catalogue raisonné) for their confirmation of Lely as the artist from photograph analysis of this previously unidentified early work. Provenance: Private collection Nottingham until 2021 Mellors and Kirk sale December 2000, lot 1173 The sitter is likely to have been from an upper class or aristocratic family in court circles, who were the main source of Lely`s patronage. The simple composition serves to highlight the beauty of the sitter through portraying her pale decolletage and complexion, set against the gentle gaze of her blue eyes, the soft blush of her cheeks and her full red lips. Peter Lely (1618-1680) was originally of dutch origin and became Principle Painter to the King in 1661, following in the footsteps of Van Dyck who had died in 1641. He dominated the portrait painting scene in England for over 20 years, creating a distinctive 'court look' in his work which had a strong influence on many other artists. He had an extremely successful and popular portrait practice which meant that he soon had to develop production methods that could accommodate the high demand for portraits, and also for copies and versions of them which were given as gifts to family and courtiers. The use of studio assistants was a common practice for busy artists and as with Van Dyck, Lely is known to have used specialist assistants to execute particular parts of his paintings. Artists who worked in Lely`s studio included John Baptist Gaspars who specialised in drapery painting, William Wissing, John Greenhill...

Portrait of a lady, half-length in a feigned oval wearing a ruby coloured silk gown holding entwined strings of pearls across her bodice. Signed 'PNason' and dated 1667 (lower right)...

Follower of FRANCESCO MAZZOLA, known as IL PARMIGIANINO (Parma, 1503 - Casalmaggiore, 1540) Cupid Carving His Bow (as the triumph of love and desire over reason and knowledge) Oil o...

Acrylic painting on paper Hand-signed by the artist lower left Unique work THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS OF MOHAMMAD ARIYAEI " Gentleness and oriental wisdom follow the supercharged bubbling to which we were accustomed from the previous deliberately art brut exhibition by Mohammad ARIYAEI. The Iranian painter's imagination moves serenely from the wildest frenzy to the meditative calm of great, fabulous stories. The artist then took pleasure in pouring the volcanic torrent of his barbaric figures onto the delicate latticework with which he is accustomed to lining his backgrounds with the patience of an illuminating monk. Already sweetness and paroxysm coexisted. Now gentleness wins. The trained imagination of the painter, yet spontaneously bubbling, by instinct as much as by erudition, has no difficulty in reconnecting with the abundant oriental tradition of the thousand and one nights, which, like a long underground river, resurfaces at the light of his painting. Spring renewal of traditions still alive. Systematic filling of space, a sort of oriental version of the Riches Heures...