Circle of Charles Phillips: Portrait of a Gentleman
A fine portrait of a handsome young gentleman – supposedly George Medlycott 1716 – 1741 – shown three-quarter length within a feigned oval and wearing crimson-lined, Prussian blue court dress and hid tricorn hat under his arm. A particularly charming and striking feature of this portrait is the unusual positioning of the sitter, with his head almost half way down the canvas; presented in a fine, probably original, 18th century gilt-wood frame.
Provenance: the Medlycott family, Ven House, Milborne Port, Dorset and by descent until recently de-accessioned. Transferred to Sandford Orcas Manor, Dorset.
Charles Phillips (1708-1747) was a successful portrait painter who was popular with the nobility and counted among his patrons Frederick, Prince of Wales, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset.