19th-Century British School

Portrait Of A Cartographer

19th-Century British School

Portrait Of A Cartographer

This fine mid-19th-century portrait depicts a dapper gentleman wearing a black coat, black waistcoat, white shirt and black necktie.

A map of the West Indies rests on his desk and he holds a compass with both hands. Given the clues, it’s plausible that he’s a cartographer and directly involved in mapping the region. There were several well-admired map-makers working at this time and our research is ongoing.

The portrait is housed within an ornate swept frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 36½” x 43” / 93cm x 109cm
Year of creation: c. 1840
Condition: The artwork has various issues including craquelure, repairs and paint losses. We’ve considered restoring it but, in our opinion, it has the appearance of a beautifully worn old country house picture. If you enjoy paintings that show their age, this one is for you.

Conservation & History

We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.

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