Portrait of a boy, full-length, in a blue coat, with a spinning top on a terrace

細節

Philip Mercier (1689-1760)
Portrait of a boy, full-length, in a blue coat, with a spinning top on a terrace
signed and dated 'Phil. Mercier. fecit/ano. 1740.' (lower right)
oil on canvas
50 x 40 in. (127 x 101.6 cm.)

來源

By descent in the King-Wilkinson family of Staidburn, Clitheroe.
Mrs M.A.L. Williams (+), sold on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society; Sotheby's, London, 21 November 1984, lot 30 (sold £38,000).

注意事項

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

拍品專文

Philip Mercier was born in Berlin, of French extraction, and moved to London in 1716. He had been recommended to King George I by the King's family in Hanover, perhaps by Frederick, Prince of Wales, to whom Mercier became Principal Painter when the prince and his family came to England in 1729. Mercier's association with the Royal Family continued when he was appointed as drawing master to the young princesses. However, he retired from Court life in 1737 and moved to York in 1739, where he became immensely popular with the local gentry. His conversation pieces and sentimental genre scenes were very influential on English painting, because his works embodied the new French taste that had been introduced by artists such as Watteau.