Date of work
Has a firm date been established for the execution of the portrait? What is the evidence for this?
Has a date been attributed to the portrait? What is the basis for the attributed date?
Has a date been inscribed on the portrait?
If so, is the inscription contemporary with the portrait, or later?
In whose hand was the date inscribed?
The following list includes examples of evidence that can be considered when trying to establish the date of a portrait:
* heraldic devices
>> The College of Arms (http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/)
* signature
* monogram
* inscribed initials
* institutional inscriptions or labels located on the work itself or the frame
* the sitter’s age as indicated by his or her appearance
* the sitter’s vital dates
The sitter’s costume: is the dress:
* contemporary?
* historicized?
* fancy?
* occupational?
* ecclesiastical?
* legal?
* academic?
>> The Burgon Society (http://www.burgon.org.uk/)
Was the sitter
A scientist?
>> The Royal Society picture collection http://royalsociety.org/
A medic?
>> The Wellcome Institute iconographic collection http://wellcomelibrary.org/about-us/about-the-collections/art-collection/
A member of the armed services?
>> The National Maritime Museum collections http://collections.rmg.co.uk/
Is the sitter wearing jewellery? If so, does it offer evidence for a marriage? Is the jewellery commemorative? Does it offer any indication of family identity?
Is the sitter wearing any medals?
>> British Museum Department of coins and medals http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/departments/coins_and_medals.aspx
>> National Army Museum (http://www.nam.ac.uk/)
Is the sitter wearing or holding any insignia?
Does the sitter’s hairstyle offer any indication of date or period?
>> The Costume Society (http://www.costumesociety.org.uk/)
>> Case study 1 – Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) by John Hayls
>> Case study 4 – Anne of Denmark attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger c.1612
What is the earliest possible date the portrait could have been made? This should take account of:
the sitter’s life dates
>> Case study 14 – Thomas Taunton by an anonymous artist of the English school c.1744-50 and Samuel Taunton, by an anonymous artist of the English school c.1749-53
the artist’s life dates
What is the latest possible date the portrait could have been made? This should take account of:
the sitter’s life dates
the artist’s life dates
>> Case study 7 – George Berkeley by John Smibert,1730
>> Case study 1 – Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) by John Hayls
Date of work: picture frame
Is the frame contemporary with the portrait?
Is the portrait in its original frame? What is the evidence for this?
Can the frame maker be identified, for example, from the style, materials, or techniques used in making the frame?
When was the frame made?
Are there any labels on frame that provide information about the frame maker, date of framing, or reframing?
>> National Portrait Gallery, The Art of the Picture Frame (http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/the-art-of-the-picture-frame.php)
Date of work: conservation records
Has a conservation survey been carried out on the portrait?
Is there a conservator’s report on the portrait?
Was any specialized photography undertaken when the portrait was surveyed or conserved?