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CHESHIRE ANTIQUES CONSULTANT LTD

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Item Details

This beautiful oil painting portrait of Lady Sarah Sophia Wood née Clark was painted by the renowned artist John Wood in the 19th century. This exquisite painting features a stunning level of detail and will make an elegant addition to any collection.

Subject oval quarter length portrait of a beautiful known young lady in quarter length front profile view facing away from the viewer with powerful fascinated gaze. She is wearing a traditional white lace dress with a black bow ribbon around her neck she has thick brown hair, with blue eyes, cherry lips and light skin rose cheeks complexion she is projecting her grace, beauty & elegance in her pose. Having dark brown hair & wearing a small black head band part.

Title inscribed on stretcher verso "Portrait of Mrs George Wood, John Wood 1857. Sarah Sophia Wood, née Clark (John Wood’s sister-in-law).

Oil on canvas.

Circa mid 19th century dated inscribed verso 1857.

Nice size with the frame being 79 cm high and 68 cm wide.

Presented in original magnificent fancy fretwork gilt gesso frame which really enhances & projects this painting. 

Unsigned inscribed verso by the known British artist John Wood.

The highest recorded sold price at auction for this artist is $33,000 USD which was for a portrait of children in landscape with a dog.

Biography of the artist John Wood (1801–1870), painter, son of a drawing-master, was born in London on 29 June 1801. He studied in Sass's school and at the Royal Academy, where in 1825 he gained the gold medal for painting. In the two previous years he had exhibited ‘Adam and Eve lamenting over the Body of Abel,’ and ‘Michael contending with Satan,’ and in 1826 he sent ‘Psyche wafted by the Zephyrs.’ These and other works displayed unusual powers of invention and design, and gained for him a great temporary reputation.

In 1834 he competed successfully for the commission for the altar-piece of St. James's, Bermondsey, and in 1836 gained a prize at Manchester for his ‘Elizabeth in the Tower.’ During the latter part of his career he painted chiefly scripture subjects and portraits, which he exhibited largely at the Royal Academy and British Institution down to 1862. His portraits of Sir Robert Peel, Earl Grey, John Britton (in the National Portrait Gallery), and others have been engraved, as well as several of his fancy subjects. Wood died on 19 April 1870.

According to a Christie's sale catalogue of 16 February 1872, Wood as a student at the RA 'obtained the notice of Fuseli and Sir Thomas Lawrence, and under the auspices of the latter he commenced his career in art'. He won the competition for the altarpiece of St James's, Bermondsey [The Ascension] 1844, and was commissioned by Earl de Grey to paint the ceiling panels in Wrest Park, Bedfordshire.

His work is represented in the Sir John Soane’s Museum and the V&A. [Catalogue of British Oil Paintings 1820-1860, Ronald Parkinson, V&A, 1990, pp.305-306. Sources' [Art Journal, 1870; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1893 also wikisource.

Provenance By descent The previous owner's great-great-great uncle was John Wood (1801-1870)

We select & sell our paintings based solely upon subject, quality & significance.

Highly sought after work of art.

Condition report.

Offered in fine used condition. The front painting surface is in good overall order with some scuffs scratches, craquelure and foxing stains in places. The frame has various general wear, chips, losses, stains and some over painting in places commensurate with usage & old age.

International buyers worldwide shipping is available please ask for a quote.

• Period: 1857
• • Price: £20,000.00
  • €24,098 Euro
  • $25,130 US Dollar
• Location: London
• • Dimensions: H: 79cm (31.10in)
  • W: 68cm (26.77in)
  • D: 5cm (1.97in)