Lot 11: JOHN ASTLEY 1724-1787

three-quarter length, standing, wearing red military dress, with a fur lined cloak, his right hand on a sword

PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN

105 by 89 cm., 41 1/4 by 35 in.

oil on canvas laid down onto board

The sitter is wearing a Hussar costume, similar to that worn by the officers of the Prussian Hussar Regiment, No.2. Continental Hussar costume was sometimes worn in Britain as an exotic dress, akin to late eighteenth century sitters wearing Van Dyck costume. This fashion probably originated from the Grand Tour, a suggestion supported by the fact that Astley spent a formative period in Italy.

An artist of great promise John Astley studied under Thomas Hudson in the early 1740s. He travelled to Italy in 1747 and was friendly with Reynolds in Rome. His style bears close resemblence to both these artists. He had a growing practice but in 1759 married a rich widow, and with the established income that this gave him, chose not to exhibit.