English School - Portrait of a Cocker Spaniel

Jan van der Vaart (1647-1727) Portrait of Dorothy, Lady Brownlow (1664-1700) Oil on canvas; held in a period carved wood frame circa 1687 Considered a beauty of the age, Dorothy, Lady Brownlow was painted on a number of occasions by some of the most talented and respected artists of the day; Kneller, Riley, Closterman, Dahl and Wissing, all rendered her features in oil for posterity. The portrait presented here is by Jan van der Vaart who from 1685-1687 was employed by Willem Wissing as a drapery and landscape painter. After Wissing’s death in 1687 he practiced as an independent portraitist much in the style of his master with some influence also of Kneller. This work is in fact the head and shoulders taken from Wissing’s three-quarter length of Lady Brownlow which hangs at Belton House, Lincolnshire and produced as a mezzotint in 1687. Van der Vaart has made some intriguing alterations particularly as the sitter now looks directly at us, appearing rather more provocative and self assured of her beauty. The confident rendering of the dress and pearls and the thickly drawn copious hair are hallmarks of Van der Vaart’s work. It is likely he completed this portrait – shortly after Wissing’s version – as a smaller variant intended for another family member as was often the practice. Dorothy Mason married Sir William Brownlow 4th Bt. in July 1688; she was the daughter and heir of Sir Richard Mason a politician and courtier to Charles II who owned estates at Bishop’s Castle, Salop and Sutton Surrey. She came from, and married into extreme wealth; her dowry upon marriage was £10,000 and on her death her husband inherited the estates that were once her father’s. In June 1697 William Brownlow succeeded his brother to the baronetcy and to most of his landed estates including Belton House. In 1698 he abandoned his Peterborough seat to contest Bishop’s Castle on behalf of his wife and in the interest of his mother-in-law, Lady Anna Mason...

A late 19th century still life oil depicting a melon, a vine branch with grapes, tomatoes, plumbs and hazelnuts on a marble table top. Oil on canvas. Set within a guilt composite...

A late 19th century botanical study depicting a red lily. Watercolor on paper held within a reeded giltwood frame.

A 15/100 scale beautiful watercolor of a steam locomotive listing the technical names for the component parts and inscribed 'Pensionnat St Gabriel - Chatell...

A late 18th century Chinese export watercolour, depicting a man and a woman in a garden, a watermelon set upon the window sill.  

A mid-20th century oil depicting an autumnal sunrise. Oil on canvas, set within a giltwood frame. Dimensions refer to size of frame. Signed: Michael Tain...

This 18th century English School portrait of a gentleman attired in garb befitting an earl is a fine example of aristocratic portraiture, a ...

Decorate an office or a den with this elegant framed dog painting. Created in England circa 1880, and set in the original carved frame, the drawing depicts a cocker spaniel poodle mi...

English School, 17th Century. A pair of portraits of William Mellish (1605-1667) and his wife, Martha (1610-1684). Inscribed respectively: Ano Domi 1639 Aetatis June 34 and N ...

Søren Edsberg, Danish artist. Portriat of a dog. Cocker spaniel. Oil on canvas. Approx. 1980s. Signed. Perfect condition. Dimensions: W 28.5 cm x 38.5 cm. Total dimensions: W 47 cm. ...

Charming English oil on canvas depicting three Spaniels and a flying duck overhead. Signed P. Hargrove. Original gilt frame.

English School Early 18th Century Portrait Miniature painting of a Gentleman. Oil on card. Circa.1720. 4.3 cms. Provenance Timothy Clowes Collection.