18th Century Art

Monumental 18th-century French battle. Oil painting on canvas depicting the Battle of Hydaspes, in which Alexander the Great defeated the Indian king Porus. A painting of considerabl...

'Henley-bridge, Oxon' Aquatint published by Samuel Ireland. From his 'Picturesque Views on the River Thames'. Ireland was an author and engraver who published several series of aqua...

Italianate landscape garden with classical ornament, including Giambologna's Sabine women and a classical urn, view to a bay beyond Coplestone War...

Giacomo Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto (1698-1767) – “Turnip” Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 204 x 124 cm (unframed) Provenance: Private collection This remarkable painting, “T...

A charming 18th-century engraving depicting the religious scene of Rebecca at The Well. Inscribed in plate. Presented in a gilt frame. On paper.

Artist/ School: 18/19th Century Spanish School Title :Head study of Christ Medium: oil painting on wood panel, period gilt framed panel : 6 x 5 inches Provenance: private collect...

This is an 18th century etching of the Patriarchal Church or Basilica of S. Pietro di Castello in Venice entitled "Chiesa Patriarcale di S. Pietro di Castello" by Domenico Lovisa, fi...

Artist/ School: Italian Old Master, 18th century Title: Angel and Saints appearing to figures, one dressed in a white ruff collar. Medium: oil on canvas...

John Nost Sartorius (London 1759-1828) A Huntsman with Dogs and Pony Signed 'JN Sartorius pin.' lower right Oil on canvas Canvas Size 26 3/4 x 37 in Framed Size - 31 x 41 in John No...

Work on canvas Black wooden frame 51 x 73 x 5 cm

Bretherton, James (After Rembrandt van Rijn). Christ and the Woman of Samaria Among Ruins. London: c 1775. Etching on light cream laid paper, 4 3/4...

This captivating oil portrait from the late 18th to early 19th century depicts a mysterious charming young woman, painted by an unknown but clearly professional master, presumably Fr...

'George II' Copper-line engraving by Pierre Francois Basan (1723-1797) after Founan. Basan (1723-1797) was a French engraver and publisher. George II (1683-1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Leneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. He was the last British monarch to have been born outside Great Britain, and was famous for his numerous conflicts with his father and, subsequently, with his son. As king, he exercised little control over policy in his early reign, the government instead being controlled by Great Britain's de facto first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole...

Up for sale is a beautiful Antique 18-century original oil painting on canvas depicting a portrait of a beautiful woman In a dress of dark gold brocade trimmed with lace. A bright bl...

Work on canvas

James Seymour (1702-1752) & Thomas Spencer (1700-1753) An elegant lady and gentleman hare coursing in an extensive landscape Oil on canvas Canvas Size - 33 x 50 in Framed Size - 41 x...

Classical Still Life of Fruit in Basket with other objects Italian artist, 18th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 24.5 x 33 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition:...

A charming watercolor Baroque architectural study. Unsigned. Presented in a gilt frame and wash line mount. On Laid paper.

A fine, large 18th century veduta capriccio scene with temple ruins after Gennaro Greco from the circle of Pietro Cappelli. The painting is presented in a more modern carved gilt woo...

Antonio Bellucci (Venice 1654 - Soligo 1726) - Diana and Endymion. 122 x 152 cm unframed, 142 x 172 cm framed. Oil on canvas, in a carved and lacque...

The Madonna, Christ Child and St. John Italian School, 18th century oil on wood, framed in period gilt antique frame framed: 16 x 14.5 inches wood: 9 x 6.5 inches provenance: private...

Provenance: Private Collection, Argentina; there acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest T. Harper, New York, by 1960; by descent to: Mr. and Mrs. Alan Harper, New York, until 2024. This extraordinary mirrored frame is an exuberant and nearly perfectly preserved example of Andean 18th-century decorative art. Pierced mirrored rosettes surrounding floral motifs are set against mirrored surrounds along a broad frieze bordered within and without by elaborate raised moldings, inlaid by small, shaped mirrors. Repeating ornamental motifs reflecting both Spanish and indigenous designs surround both the inside panel and the exterior perimeter, the four corners of which are punctuated by mirrored rosettes. Glass mirrors were unknown to the indigenous population of the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans (obsidian mirrors...

The four plates in this "Four Times of the Day" set were created utilizing both engraving and etching techniques by William Hogarth in 1738. Hogarth's original copper plates were refurbished where needed by James Heath and these engravings were republished in London in 1822 by Braddock, Cradock & Joy. This was the last time Hogarth's original copper plates were used for printing. Most were melted down during World War I for the construction of bombs. Printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with large, full margins as published by William Heath in 1822. The inscription below each print reads "Invented Painted & Engraved by Wm. Hogarth & Publish'd March 25. 1738 according to Act of Parliament". These large folio sized "Four Times of the Day" engravings/etchings are presented in complex gold-colored wood frames with black bands and scalloped gold inner trim. A majority of each thick impressive frame is covered with glass applied near the outer edge. Each frame measures 25.75" high, 22.25" wide and 1.88" deep. There are a few small dents in the edge of these frames, which are otherwise in very good condition. "Morning" has two focal areas of discoloration in the upper margin and some discoloration in the right margin, a short tear in the left margin and a short tear or crease in the right margin. "Noon" has a spot in the upper margin that extends into the upper image, but it is otherwise in very good condition. "Evening" has a faint spot in the upper margin, but it is otherwise in very good condition. "Night" is in excellent condition. The "Four Times of the Day" series is in the collection of many major museums, including: The British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Tate Museum, The Chicago Art Institute and The Victoria and Albert Museum. Through this series Hogarth is portraying early 18th century London street life at "Four Times of the Day". His characters are exhibiting their personalities, quircks, strange activities, but he also wants to draw attention the disparities between the wealthy aristocracy and the common working class. Plate 1, "Morning" depicts morning in Covent Garden in the winter in front of Tom King...

Expressive depiction of Christ being aided by Simon of Cyrene by an unknown artist, Italiante School style of 17th-century Northern European painters principally Dutch, c.1700s-1800s. This piece is composed of oil on linen, laid down on fiberboard. Presented in a giltwood frame. Image size: 42"H x 33"W. Italianate painters, group of 17th-century northern European painters, principally Dutch, who traveled in Italy and, consciously adopting the style of landscape painting that they found there, incorporated Italian models and motifs into their own works. Chief among the Italianates were Bartholomeus Breenbergh, Andries and Jan Both, Nicolaes Berchem, and Jan Asselijn...

Naval Shipping in Stormy Seas English School, 18th century circle of Charles Brooking, (1723-1759) oil painting on canvas: 16.5 x 21.5 inches Morland ...

Two figures stand amidst the ruins of Wolvesey Castle, framed by a crumbling arch. The artist employs careful, fine brushwork in this late eighteenth-century watercolour. Inscribed w...

Francesco Zuccarelli (Pitigliano 1702 - Florence 1788), circle of Landscape with river and resting shepherds First half of the 18th century   oil painting on canvas cm. 60 x 93, wit...

French School, Late 18th Century Alexander the Great in the House of Darius Oil on canvas H. 42 cm; W. 53.5 cm without frame Apocryphal signature lower right "Verhag..." This painti...

La obra no va firmada El estado de conservación de puede ver, es bastante bueno, solo aconsejaría una limpieza ya que está un poco sucia, pero por lo demas, muy aceptable Se presen...

The Tax Collectors Italian School, early 18th century oil on copper panel, framed framed: 14 x 11.5 inches copper panel : 11.5 x 9 inches provenance: private collection, UK conditio...

Military Camp Scene and Battle. Pietro Graziani (XVII/XVIII century), entourage. A pair ( two) of small paintings. Antique XIX century frames in gilt wood.  In good condition. Oi...

Classical Still Life of Fruit in Basket with other objects Italian artist, 18th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 24.5 x 33 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition:...

Bernard Picart, 'The Death of Hercules' from 'The Temple of the Muses', engraving, 1730. Signed in the plate, lower left. Titled in French, English, German, and Dutch. A superb, rich...

This rather special Italian Old Master religious portrait oil painting is attributed to a follower of Giovanni Battista Salvi, or Sassoferrato as he is better known. Painted circa 17...

Antique Indian Mughal portrait of a Prince, late 18th cent. , by repute possibly depicting Maharaja Vijay Singh of Marwar (1729 - 1793) Rajasthan, circa 1800’s The Maharaja is ...

Netherlandish School XVIII Century Monogrammed Old Master Oil Painting An intriguing oil painting of early extraction depicting the crucifixion at Calvary outside Jerusalem. I am s...

The Pig Farmer Circle of George Morland (1763 - 1804) circa 1795 bears signature oil on canvas, framed in highly ornate elaborate frame. framed: 30 x 36 inches canvas : 25 x 31 inc...

Le Margay is an etching realized in 1771 by Louis Legrand (1723-1807). Titled and Signed on the plate. The artwork Belongs to the suite "Histoire naturelle, générale et particulièr...

Image dimensions: 15 X 10 cm. This Persian Miniature scene of men with scimitar is a unique precious original painting on the front with handwriting...

Shunga is an original modern artwork realized by Katsukawa Schuncho (1726 – 1793) in the half of the 18th Century. Oban yokoe. Erotic scene from the series "Koshuko zue juni ko" (Erotic pictures...

Circle of John Downman (1750-1824) Portrait Miniature of a Lady c1780 Oil on Copper A delicate English School portrait, dating to c. 1780, of a young lady identified as the Right Ho...

The splendour of the tragic sea Francesco Guardi and maritime painting in Venetian art No Venetian painter was a stranger to the sea. After all, Venice was not only one of the most prominent ports of the Mediterranean, but indeed a city literally submerged in the ocean from time to time. Curiously however, the famous Venetian school of painting showed little interest in maritime motifs, favouring scenes from the iconic architecture of the city rather than seascapes. That is why this painting is a particularly interesting window into not only the painter Francesco Guardi himself – but to the significance of the element of water in art history, in absence as well as in the centre of attention. Whether it be calm, sunny days with stunning views of the palaces alongside the canals of Venice or – more rarely – stormy shipwrecking tragedies at sea, water as a unifying element is integral to the works of painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). During his lifetime, Venetian art saw many of its greatest triumphs with names like Tiepolo or Canaletto gaining international recognition and firmly establishing Venice as one of the most vibrant artistic communities of Europe. While the city itself already in the 18th century was something of an early tourist spot where aristocrats and high society visited on their grand tour or travels, the artists too contributed to the fame and their work spread the image of Venice as the city of romance and leisure to an international audience, many of whom could never visit in person. Still today, the iconic image of Venice with its whimsical array of palaces, churches and other historic buildings is much influenced by these artists, many of whom have stood the test of time like very well and remain some of the most beloved in all of art history. It was not primarily subtility, intellectual meanings or moral ideals that the Venetian art tried to capture; instead it was the sheer vibrancy of life and the fast-paced city with crumbling palaces and festive people that made this atmosphere so special. Of course, Venice could count painters in most genres among its residents, from portraiture to religious motifs, history painting and much else. Still, it is the Vedutas and views of the city that seems to have etched itself into our memory more than anything else, not least in the tradition of Canaletto who was perhaps the undisputed master of all Venetian painters. Born into his profession, Francesco lived and breathed painting all his life. His father, the painter Domenico Guardi (1678–1716) died when Francesco was just a small child, yet both he and his brothers Niccolò and Gian Antonio continued in their fathers’ footsteps. The Guardi family belonged to the nobility and originated from the mountainous area of Trentino, not far from the Alps. The brothers worked together on more challenging commissions and supported each other in the manner typical of family workshops or networks of artists. Their sister Maria Cecilia married no other than the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo himself, linking the family to the most renowned Venetian name of the time. During almost a decade, Guardi worked in the studio of Michele Giovanni Marieschi, sometimes simply known as Michiel, a painted similar in both style and motif. Canaletto is, however, the artist Guardi is most often compared to since they shared a mutual fascination for depicting the architecture and cityscape of Venice. During the course of his career, Guardi tried his hand in many different genres. He was as swift in painting landscapes, Vedutas of Venice, sacred motifs, interiors and architectural compositions as he was in a number of other motifs. His style is typical of the Venetian school but also distinct and personal once we look a little closer. There is an absolute certainty in the composition, the choice of which sometimes feels like that of a carefully calculated photograph – yet it is also very painterly, in the best sense of the word: fluid, bold, sensitive and full of character. The brushwork is rapid, intense, seemingly careless and extraordinarily minute at the same time; fresh and planned in a very enjoyable mixture. His interiors often capture the breath-taking spacious glamour of the palaces and all their exquisite decor. He usually constructed the motif through remarkably simple, almost spontaneous yet intuitively precise strokes and shapes. The result was a festive, high-spirited atmospheric quality, far away from the sterile and exact likeness that other painters fell victim to when trying to copy Canaletto. The painting here has nothing of the city of Venice in it. On the contrary, we seem to be transported far away into the solitary ocean, with no architecture, nothing to hold on to – only the roaring sea and the dangerous cliffs upon which the ships are just moments away from being crushed upon. It is a maritime composition evoking both Flemish and Italian precursors, in the proud tradition of maritime painting that for centuries formed a crucial part of our visual culture. This genre of painting is today curiously overlooked, compared to how esteemed and meaningful it was when our relationship to the sea was far more natural than it is today. When both people and goods travelled by water, and many nations and cities – Venice among them – depended entirely on sea fare, the existential connection to the ocean was much more natural and integrated into the imagination. The schools and traditions of maritime art are as manifold as there are countries connected to the sea, and all reflect the need to process the dangers and wonders of the ocean. It could symbolize opportunity, the exciting prospects of a new countries and adventures, prospering trade, beautiful scenery as well as war and tragedy, loss of life, danger and doom. To say that water is ambivalent in nature is an understatement, and these many layers were something that artists explored in the most wondrous ways. Perhaps it takes a bit more time for the modern eye to identify the different nuances and qualities of historic maritime paintings, they may on first impression seem hard to differentiate from each other. But when allowing these motifs to unfold and tell stories of the sea in both fiction and reality – or somewhere in between – we are awarded with an understanding of how the oceans truly built our world. In Guardi’s interpretation, we see an almost theatrically arranged shipwrecking scene. No less than five ships are depicted right in the moment of utter disaster. Caught in a violent storm, the waves have driven them to a shore of sharp cliffs and if not swallowed by the waves, crushing against the cliffs seems to be the only outcome. The large wooden ships are impressively decorated with elaborate sculpture, and in fact relics already during Guardi’s lifetime. They are in fact typical of Dutch and Flemish 17th century ships, giving us a clue to where he got the inspiration from. Guardi must have seen examples of Flemish maritime art, that made him curious about these particular motifs. One is reminded of Flemish painters like Willem van de Velde and Ludolf Backhuysen, and this very painting has indeed been mistakenly attributed to Matthieu van Plattenberg...

Italian painter (18th century) - Arcadian landscape with flock and shepherds. 56 x 70 cm without frame, 63.5 x 79 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a wooden frame (...

Portrait of a Young Girl French Rococo School, 18th century, unsigned oil on canvas, framed Framed: 24 x 20 inches Canvas : 20 x 16 inches Provenance: private collection, France Con...

Francesco Solimena (Canale di Serino 1657 - Barra 1747) workshop - Allegory of America. 76.5 x 64.5 cm unframed, 83 x 69.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a lacqu...

Italian painter (18th century) - Saint Monica in prayer. 56 x 32 cm. Antique oil painting on canvas, without frame (not signed). Condition report: Good state of conservation of th...

Landscape with hunters by a lake. 18th century. Oil painting on canvas, from the French or Northern Italian school, Louis XV period. Probably part of the door decoration in an interi...

Le Chat Sauvage is an etching realized in 1771 by Louis Legrand (1723-1807). The Artwork is depicted through confident strokes in aa well balanced composition. Good conditions.

Francesco Zuccarelli (Pitigliano 1702 - Florence 1788) - River landscape with knights and medieval village. 53 x 70 cm without frame, 64.5 x 80.5 cm with frame. Antique oil paintin...

Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) British. 18th Century Bust Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas, Inscribed on a label verso, canvas: 30" x 25" (76.2 x 63.5cm). frame: 30 x 25 in...

Francesco Battaglioli (Modena c. 1710 - Venice post-1796) - Architectural Capriccio with Figures. 83.5 x 114.5 cm unframed, 98 x 130 cm with fra...

This superb large three quarter length British Old Master portrait in a landscape oil painting is attributed to circle of John Vanderbank the Younger. Painted circa 1738 the sitter is Mrs James Hoste of South Wootton and Sandringham, nee Hammond. She was the daughter of Anthony Hamond and Susan Walpole, daughter of Robert Walpole, and was sister to Robert, 1st Earl of Oxford. She married Major James Hoste of Sandringham, Norfolk, and they had two daughters. The sheen of her blue satin dress against her gold cloak is stunning. A really lovely 18th century portrait with excellent provenance. Inscribed with sitter details lower left. Provenance. By descent within the family of the sitter at West Acre High House, Norfolk; Cheffins, Cambridge, 'West Acre High House' sale, 24 November 2010, Lot 519; Wood Hall, Arkesden, Essex. Literature: 'Portraits in Norfolk Houses', Prince Duleep Singh, 1927, No. 36. Sitter's details on two labels verso. Condition. Oil on canvas, image size is 50 inches by 40 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame, 58 inches by 48 inches framed and in good condition. John Vanderbank (1694-1739) was an English portraitist and book illustrator, who enjoyed a high reputation for a short while during the reign of King George...

Jan Weenix Canvas Size: 32 x 26" (82 x 66cm) Outside Frame Size: 40 x 34" (102 x 86cm) This beautiful painting is unsigned but this is not unusual with Jan ...

Hyacinthe Rigaud (Perpignan 1659 - Paris 1743) School of Portrait of a gentleman in armour: Joseph Jean Raymond de Lasbordes, Officer of the “Régiment des Landes” (infantry regime...

Le Leopard is an etching realized by Jean Charles Baquoy in 1771. The artwork Belongs to the suite "Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière avec la description du Cabinet du Ro...

French Rococo painter (18th century) - Gallant scene in a landscape. 63.5 x 76 cm without frame, 91 x 102.5 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a carved and gilded wo...

Johann Georg de Hamilton (1672-1737) A saddled officer's Arabian horse with a hound and gun, in a landscape Oil on canvas Canvas size - 21 x 23 in Framed size - 27 x 29 in Provenanc...

Mid 18th century hand coloured copper plate engraving of an equestrian subject by Johann Elias Ridinger. Initial signed 'in the plate' bottom right. Presented in a fine gilt wood fra...

This fine French Old Master portrait oil painting on canvas dates to circa 1770 and is attributed to the circle of Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun. The sitter is Madam van Robais. The van R...

This superb British Old Master marine oil painting is attributed to Peter Monamy. Painted circa 1730 it depicts Morning Gun - A morning gun is a gun fired at the first note of revei...