A Footman with a Pike
attributed to Italian (North Italian) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
Unknown
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
33.7 x 21.6 cm
Collection
Nymans Estate, West Sussex
NT 1207531
Summary
Oil on canvas, A Footman with a Pike, attributed to a Northern Italian School, 18th century. A full-length portrait of a man, turned slightly to proper left, facing, his proper left hand on hip, his proper right foot crossed over the left. The young man, described as a footman, wears a blue coat with pink-red lining, a pink-red embroidered waistcoat, a white shirt with ruffled cuffs, blue breaches and black shoes with buckles and red heels. The sitter has red hair and wears a had trimmed with white and pink-red bows. In the proper right hand he holds a pike embellished with pink-red tassels. In a wooden frame. Once hung in the Tudor Room of 104 Lancaster Gate, the Messel family's London residence, in the 1960s the picture was taken to Flaxley Abbey, Gloucestershire, as part of a collection of Messel objects sold and given to Frederick and Phyllis Baden Watkins who had bought Flaxley in 1960 and had commissioned Oliver Messel to remodel and decorate its interiors.
Provenance
Formerly the Messel family collection at 104 Lancaster Gate (Tudor Room); thence by descent to Oliver Messel; supplied by Oliver Messel to Frederick and Phyllis Watkins for Flaxley Abbey; sold Dreweatts, 3 October 2022, 'The collection formerly from Flaxley Abbey; an Oliver Messel Commission', lot 254.
Makers and roles
attributed to Italian (North Italian) School, artist