English School, circa 1660

Plymouth, City Museum and Art Gallery, Paintings from the Clarendon Collection, 1954, no. 12;
Plymouth, City Museum and Art Gallery, on long term loan until 2010

 

BM Add. MS 6391, ff 77 (The Grove, 1764, no. 42);
G. P. Harding, List of Portraits, Pictures in Various Mansions in the United Kingdom, unpublished MS 1804, Vol. II, p. 211;
Lady T. Lewis, Lives of the Friends and Contemporaries of Lord Chancellor Clarendon, London 1852, Vol. III, no. 16, pp. 255 and 292-294;
R. Gibson, Catalogue of Portraits in the Collection of the Earl of Clarendon, Wallop 1977, no. 5, p. 5;
J. Ingamells, The English Episcopal Portrait 1559-1825, 1981, p.100).

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition, though the paint pigment appears a little thin in places. There are no apparent damages or areas of paint loss. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor retouching overall, and minor strengthening to the costume. FRAME Held in a carved and gilded wooden frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@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.
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The sitter was one of the foremost English scholars of his day, and a pre-eminent clergyman under both Elizabeth I and James I. He served consecutively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester, and was formative in the creation of the King James Bible.  
According to Ingamells, this is a posthumous portrait from c. 1660, based on the prime portrait by Joseph Buckshorn at Pembroke College, Cambridge.