Self-portrait by Edward Collier, oil on canvas, 1683 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Queries: 'Sitters & Biography'

Seeking information about ‘The Black Boy’ (1844) by William L. Windus

‘The Black Boy’ was painted by Liverpool artist William L. Windus in 1844. The portrait has been on display in the International Slavery Museum since 2007, but there are still many things that we don’t know about the sitter and his experiences as a Black child in 19th century Liverpool. Following a dedicated research project, […]

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Looking for artist attributions and sitter identity

A new submission to the queries board as follows: I am trying to find some help with a portrait I came across about two years ago. This oil on canvas has a plate at the bottom that reads, ‘Lady Fitzgerald, Thomas Gainsborough’. Hugh Belsey later ruled out this being the artist and suggested maybe it […]

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Seeking artist and sitter suggestions

A member is seeking suggestions as to artist and sitter for this portrait of a young man with riding crop, 100 x 127 cms. There’s a Charles Roberson stamp on the canvas. Click the image below for a larger version. Please use the comments space below to send your responses, thanks.    

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Seeking sitter’s identity

A member in the US is seeking help in identifying the female sitter in this work, attributed to Thomas Hudson. The remains of a hand-written label on the reverse reads ‘… John Durrant Esq of | Silverton, Devon’. Click on the images below to enlarge. Please share your thoughts using the comments box below.

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Portrait of a lady c.1675

A member has been in touch seeking comments on this portrait of an unknown lady c.1675, style of Beale/Lely, uncleaned. Click on the images to enlarge, and please use the comments function below to post your response, thank you.

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Artists and dates sought for these Leeds/Dewsbury portraits

A member is attempting to identify four portrait sitters by artist attributions or proposed dates. The portraits are in a private family collection, and the sitters lived in the Leeds/Dewsbury area. Click the thumbnails for larger images. Please use the comment space below to share your ideas.

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Date and artist attribution sought by Valence House Museum

Valence House Museum has recently been asked to identify the sitter in this portrait. Writing on the reverse of the frame identifies this sitter at Charles (Skyrme) Fanshawe of Island House, Laugharne [Carmarthenshire]. It also state that the sitter is descended from King Charles II and his wife Lucy Walter through their daughter Mary, wife […]

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Ideas sought on artist and sitter

A member is looking for ideas as to artist attribution and sitter identity regarding this miniature portrait, oil on copper. The sitter wears an unidentified medal and lace-edged collar. Please use the comments section at the bottom of the page to share your ideas.  

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Lady Ann Fanshawe attributed to Mignard, 1660?

Valence House Museum has been asked to find more information on this portrait. An inscription on the reverse of the canvas (see below) states that the sitter is Lady Ann Fanshawe (1625-80) and was painted by Mignard in 1660. However, in 1660 Lady Ann would have been 35 years old, and the sitter in this […]

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Unknown woman by Herman Verelst, 1688

Colleagues at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, have posted an image of their portrait by Herman Verelst, dated 1688. On reverse of the frame are labels reading “Mrs. Burslem [crossed out: Barnardiston] / from Mrs. Smith” and “Boddam-Whetham”. They welcome any thoughts regarding the possible identity of the sitter. […]

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Queries & Reviews

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