Francis Cotes, R.A. (1726-1770) Portrait of Alice Blair Gaft Johnston, signed & dated 1751
$8,500.00 AUD
Francis Cotes 1726-1770, R.A.
Portrait of Alice Blair Gaft Johnston, shown in quarter length with a blue silk dress and golden shawl, a gold silk bow with pendant string of pearls trailing around her waist, a further golden bow on her sleeve.
Pastel on canvas,
Signed & dated mid left
‘FC / 1751
Mounted in a period 18th century carved foliate frame (probably original)
Provenance: estate of Foy Casper (1939-2003, chief art conservator Chrysler Museum USA)
2009- Moorabool Antiques, Geelong
Private Melbourne collection
work 45x57cm, frame 68x79cm
Some signs of age, surface with some ripples and small areas of loss, conserved early 2000’s with conservation materials. Frame gold is good, with minor wear & losses. Displays very well.
Francis Cotes (1726-1770) began as a miniature painter, and soon came to be a prominent portrait painter amongst the aristocracy of England. He vied with the likes of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) and Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) to become the most sought-after professional portrait painter of his generation. Members of the Royal Family feature among his works. He tragically died in 1770 after drinking a toxic concoction intended to dissolve his troublesome gall stones.
He is represented in major collections around the world, such as the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Tate, London.
The Tate’s Portrait of a Lady (1768) has the same signature ‘FC’ monogram as this work, and the 1768 date coincides with his part in the founding of the Royal Academy in that year.
Featured in the catalogue of 18th century pastel portraits created by leader in the field, Neil Jeffares, see online catalogue, pastellists.com
http://www.pastellists.com/Articles/Cotes1.pdf
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