Discovered Gainsborough Portrait for London Auction
Published June 19th, 2008
A recently discovered portrait by one of Britain’s most loved and respected 18th Century artists, Thomas Gainsborough, (British 1727-1788), is to be sold in Bonhams Sale of Old Master Paintings on 9 July at 101 New Bond Street, London. The oil painting, which has never been seen at auction before, is expected to fetch £80,000-120,000.
The portrait - a previously unrecorded work by Gainsborough – was examined and authenticated by the leading expert on the artist, Hugh Besley, at the end of last year. The painting has been in the same family since it was commissioned in 1760 however, it was not until the recent investigations that its true importance was realised. The oil on canvas painting features Humphrey Hall (1738-1801), son of Thomas Hall (1692-1748) a London merchant who made his fortune in the China Trade. Humphrey elevated the family from merchant class to gentry when he married the daughter of Lord St John. The Hall family residence, Goldings, in Hertfordshire, was sold by Humphrey in 1770 and he moved to Manadon near Plymouth.
Bonhams Old Master Paintings Sale will be held on 9 July at 101 New Bond Street, London. You can find out more about the sale by visiting the website at www.bonhams.com/gainsborough
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