English School, 1603

Portrait of a judge, possibly Sir Thomas Walmsley (1537-1612), of Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire, full-length, in legal robes, holding a pair of gloves in his right hand, his left hand resting on a draped table with a pocket watch

Details

English School, 1603
Portrait of a judge, possibly Sir Thomas Walmsley (1537-1612), of Dunkenhalgh, Lancashire, full-length, in legal robes, holding a pair of gloves in his right hand, his left hand resting on a draped table with a pocket watch
dated '1603' (lower right); and with the coat-of-arms of the Nowell family and the motto 'VT IVVET' (upper left)
oil on canvas
75¾ x 41¾ in. (192.4 x 106.1 cm.)

Provenance

with Lane Fine Art, London, from whom acquired by the present owner.

Sale room notice

We are grateful to Sir John Baker for his opinion that this portrait is not of Sir Thomas Walmsley, but more probably shows a member of the Nowell family.

Brought to you by

Alexandra Cruden

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Lot Essay

The coat-of-arms in this portrait are those carved in stone in 1590 over the entrance to Little Mearley Hall, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire. They relate to a descendant of Christopher Nowell (d. 1546), whose grandson, Christopher Nowell (d. 1668) married Elizabeth Walmsley. It has been suggested that the sitter may be Elizabeth's brother, Sir Thomas Walmsley, who was appointed a Justice of the Common Pleas in 1589 and would have been aged 66 in 1603.

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