LATE 18TH CENTURY PORTRAIT OF AN ELEGANT YOUNG LADY - CIRCLE OF DAVID MARTIN (1737-1797)

A fine and sensitively rendered late 18th century British portrait of a lady from an artist in the circle of David Martin. The attractive young beauty is depicted half length inclined to the left. She has pale skin, raven hair and rosebud lips, and she gazes at us with the most sensitive of expressions. 

She sports the preferred costume of aristocratic ladies of the period. It is comprised of a pale, eau de nil, lace trimmed silk dress, with gold embroidery. It is held in place by a golden cord tied in a bow at her busom. A shimmering rose pink wrap is worn around her shoulders and her vertiginous hair is held in place by a string of tiny pearls.

David Martin (1 April 1737 – 30 December 1797)  This celebrated British painter and engraver was born in Fife, Scotland, he studied in London and Italy, before gaining a reputation as a portrait painter.

He accompanied the portrait painter Allan Ramsey  on his tour of Italy in 1756–7, having already been taught by him, and after returning became a student at the St Martin’s Lane Academy in London. There he gained premiums for life drawing in each year from 1759 to 1761. He also joined Ramsay's studio as its principal draughtsman, in the 1760s helping to produce many of the coronation portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte.

He had his own studio by 1770, by which time he had also produced his first self-portrait (now in the National Gallery of Scotland) Martin painted over 300 portraits in his lifetime. One of the earliest independent ones is the 1767 one of Benjamin Franklin  (now in the White House, Washington D.C ). Martin exhibited at the Incorporated Society of Atrists from 1765 to 1777 (being elected its treasurer, vice-president, and president between 1772 and 1777), at the Free Society of Artists in 1767 and at the Royal Academy in 1779 and 1790. 

In 1780, Martin returned to Edinburgh (but not selling his home in High Street, Dartford, until 1782), a move signalled by his admittance to the Royal Company of and a rare full-length portrait he painted of its president, Sir james of Stichill (1791–4). In 1785 he was appointed principal painter to the Prince of Wales in Scotland. Martin died in 1797 at his home, 4 St James Square, Edinburgh, and was buried in Leith South churchyard on 3 January 1798, with his home contents and studio contents sold at auction in 1799 (in an auction taking 21 days).

This fine painting is in an excellent state of conservation and is ready to hang and enjoy in a hand carved and gilded antique Lely style frame, which is itself a work of art.

Higher Resolution images on request.     Worldwide shipping available.

Canvas: 25" x 30" / 64cm x 76.5cm.            Frame: 37.5" x 32" / 75cm x 81.5cm.    

Price: £6950