Size: 55x45cm / 21.65x17.71 inches This portrait was acquired from a retired art collector in his 70s who intended to sell out his collection. He stated that this portrait is an original John Martin, the English romantic painter of the 19th century. Wikipedia says: ‘John Martin (19 July 1789 – 17 February 1854)[1] was an English Romantic painter, engraver and illustrator. He was celebrated for his typically vast and melodramatic paintings of religious subjects and fantastic compositions, populated with minute figures placed in imposing landscapes.’ If it’s really a work of that John Martin or another artist who signed ‘J. Martin’ is not certain. What is evident is that it is indeed an antique painting of exquisite beauty, elegance and finesse. The portrait of a poised handsome gentleman with charming smile lines around his beautiful eyes. Those eyes are kind and so full of life. The condition is great, with expectable signs of wear -the wood is old and stained, the canvas has areas on the edges where the paint has rubbed off, as it can be seen in the photos ( a beautiful frame would cover that part, nevertheless, and greatly enhance the already stunning looks of this art work). A piece of art of great beauty, a mystery someone in the know might be able to decipher, and in any case a remarkable portrait for any collection nevertheless.

Private collection