Beschreibung:

Provincial Follower of John Michael Wright (British, 1617-1694) Portrait of Sir John Gaudy of West Harling, Norfolk, aged 30, 1670 (1639-1708), in black robe and white lace cravat tied in a bunch, and long fair curly wig, ending in three curls in an elaborate painted stone cartouche painted with grapes oil on canvas, in a black and gilt frame h:74 w:62 cm Provenance: By descent from the sitter; Lord Thurlow; a gift to his friend the Reverend William Leech of Saxlingham; Bequeathed to Mrs Sarah Fuller, his cousin, of Colegate End, Pulham, who died 1830; Bequeathed to her daugher, Judith Fuller; Bequeathed to her daughter, Pitsy Poppy of Pulham Market; who sold to J Sancroft Holmes in 1871 (along with a portrait of Lady Gaudy - present whereabouts unknown) Bonhams, The Contents of the Old Rectory, Banningham, Norfolk 22 March 2004, Lot 195, whence acquired by the present owner Exhibited: Norwich, Strangers Hall, "The Age of Charles II", 1960, No. 18 Norwich, Castle Museum, "Family and Friends", 1992, no.33, illus. p.101 Literature: Prince Duleep Singh, "Portraits in Norfolk Houses" , 1927, Vol. 1, p.160, No.6 Other Notes: Sir John Gaudy (1639-1709) was the son of Sir William Gaudy, Bart. (d. 1669, son of Framlingham Gawdy) of West Harling, Norfolk, and his wife, Elizabeth (d.1653), daughter and heir of John Duffield of East Wretham. Prince Duleep Singh writes: "Sir John Gaudy was a deaf mute and a pupil of Sir Peter Lely and he became a painter of considerable merit ... N.B. It is quite possible that the portrait was painted by himself". Sir John Gaudy took up painting after the family moved to Bury St Edmunds following the death of his mother and he worked in the studio of Matthew Snelling with the intention of having a career as a portrait painter. After the death of his brother, who was also a deaf mute, he inherited the family estate and moved back to West Harling - although he had a reputation as a skilled painter, he now no longer needed to paint as a profession. Sir John married Anne, youngest daugher of Sir Robert de Grey of Merton and his wife Elizabeth (nee Bredon) of Ipswich, with whom he had one daughter and a son, who never married.