Circle of John Hayls

half length, wearing a blue wrap over a white dress

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined and there is a red clay residue on the reverse. There are also two small patches to the reverse of the canvas. PAINT SURFACE There is a small area of scattered, localised paint loss to the left of the sitter's neck, and there are a small number of further scatterd paint losses overall. There is minor scattered paint loss and lifting of the paint possibly die to previous relining overall. There is a layer of uneven dirt and discoloured varnish and there are also tears to reflect the patches, verso, there is also an additional tear lower left. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the opacity of the varnish and reveals retouching to the background, eather side of the the sitters neck, and further scattered minor retouchings to the back ground in the upper section of the canvas. FRAME Held in a gilded wooden frame. For further information on the present lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on 0044 (0)20 7293 5482, or via email at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sitter is possibly Margaret, daughter of the Parliamentary General Sir William Waller (c.1598-1668), who married Sir William Courtenay, 1st Bt. Though there is no documentation in the family accounts to confirm her identity, comparisons between the features of the present portrait and those of Margaret's father in the National Portrait Gallery, painted in 1643 by Cornelius Johnson, bears a striking similarity.