C18th PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN IN A RED VELVET COAT

A finely executed early 18th-century portrait depicting a gentleman posed confidently within a feigned oval frame. The sitter, dressed in a richly hued red velvet coat with decorative buttons, a silvered waistcoat, and a white cravat, exemplifies the refined taste and status of the English gentry of the period. His hand rests assertively on his hip, a gesture denoting self-assurance and rank.
The subject’s voluminous powdered periwig, rendered with meticulous attention to texture and light, reflects the height of Baroque fashion circa 1700–1720. The restrained, dark background enhances the sitter’s presence, a hallmark of portraiture from the circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller and his contemporaries.
The painting exhibits the elegant formality characteristic of early Georgian portraiture. Presented in good condition, the work retains much of its original surface detail consistent with its period.

Measurements: 41cm x 36cm (16in x 14in)

PROVENANCE
The Estate of Eric Robinson