October 17, 2025: Fine & Decorative Arts - Day Two
Fri, Oct 17, 2025 09:00AM EDT
Lot 1140
BRITISH SCHOOL (18TH CENTURY) PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN
Estimate: $500 - $800
Sold for
$8,540
Sold Price includes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
BRITISH SCHOOL (18TH CENTURY) PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN, oil on canvas, a waist-length depiction of a figure in black doublet and elaborate white lace collar, possibly an early copy of the Cobbe portrait (c.1610) of a Jacobean gentleman believed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and others to depict the iconic poet and playwright, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), no signature located. Housed in a period carved giltwood frame. 29" x 24" sight, 37 1/4" x 32 1/4" OA.
Catalogue Note: The present portrait is quite possibly an 18th-century copy of what is considered to be one of two known portraits of William Shakespeare painted in his lifetime. Referred to as the Cobbe portrait for the Irish family in which it descended, the original work was reportedly commissioned by the Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare's patron, around 1610 and depicts the poet in the latter stages of his career sporting the latest Jacobean attire. Several copies of the Cobbe portrait exist, including a period example executed on panel at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and a 19th-century example at the J. P Morgan Library in New York City. Given the scarcity of any visual record and the scant biographical information that survives regarding William Shakespeare, it is no surprise that there is scholarly debate surrounding the Cobbe portrait sitter's identity. Indeed, there are several scholars who argue that the subject is, in fact, not Shakespeare but one Sir Thomas Overbury, a poet and political advisor connected with the court of King James, who was eventually imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he died after six months, likely as the result of foul play directed by the King and/or his advisers. Regardless of the debate surrounding the sitter's identity, the present portrait appears to be connected to the Cobbe group and warrants further study. Research is ongoing.
Condition
Good overall visual condition with minor to moderate discoloration, conserved with evidence of minor old inpainting to figure and background under a heavy varnish. Frame with moderate wear.
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