George Gower

With the Slingsby Family, Yorkshire;
by descent to Sir Charles Slingsby (1874-1941) of Scriven Park, until sold by order of the Trustees, London, Christie's, 9th May 1947, lot 98 (as by 'Zuccaro', bt. by Arcade for 73.10 gns.);
with The Arcade Gallery, 1947 until sold to a Private German Collector

London, The Arcade Gallery Exhibtion, Portraits from 1550-1650, 10 October-8 November, 1947 (as 'English School')

STRUCTURE The panel consists of three vertically joined sections, and has been cradled, verso. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in generally good condition, with no apparent extant damage or loss of paint. The pigment is a little thin in the background, the result of which is that some of the reddish ground is showing through in places, and the paint is somewhat abraded in the areas of the costume, particularly the collar. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals retouching in the background, predominantly in the upper right and left, and to the panel joins. This is particularly extensive in the upper right, around the coat of arms. There is retouching to the flesh tones of the sitter's face, and in his ruff, as well as in the upper central section of the costume. The picture has been cleaned in the upper section of the painting, but there remains remnants of a thin, slightly opaque varnish in the lower section of the painting. FRAME Held in a wooden frame, with painted decoration. 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.
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 was the son of Sir Francis Slingsby (1522-1600), Knight of Scriven, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Percy (c.1504-1537), who was executed in 1537 for his part in The Pilgrimage of Grace, and sister of both the 7th and 8th Earls of Northumberland. Their eldest son, in 1579 Thomas's life was tragically cut short when he drowned at the age of 23 trying to rescue his servant in the River Nidd, near Knaresborough.