Beschreibung:

Property from the Berkeley Collection at Spetchley ParkThomas GibsonLondon 1680 - 1751Portrait of Admiral Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743)
oil on canvasunframed: 125.3 x 101.5 cm.; 49 ⅜ x 40 in.framed: 150 x 125.4 cm.; 59 ⅛ x 49 ⅜ in.Condition reportThe canvas is unlined and bares signs of nails along all four margins presumably placed there in a very early campaign of restoration. It sits very loosely on its stretcher. The canvas bears an old repaired tear in the centre left measuring approximately 10 by 6 cm. The entire paint layer is covered in a very old layer of heavily yellowed varnish. There are paint losses visible along the aforementioned tear and in various areas of the sitter's jacket, hair and lower left of the canvas. The old varnish makes it hard to read the painting although it appears that there are some old campaigns of restoration underneath, visible particularly in the background on the right. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals some retouchings in the aforementioned tear and along the nails on the margins. There also appears to be evidence of further retouching underneath the very discoloured and fluorescent varnish. The painting is in moderate condition. Offered in a carved wood frame.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceRichard Temple-Nugent-Bryges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos (1797-1861), Stowe House, Buckinghamshire;
His sale, Christie's, on the premises, Stowe House, 14 September 1848 (15 August - 7 October 1848), lot 302, to R. Berkeley, Esq., for £8-18s.-6d. (as Dahl);
Thence by descent to the present owner.LiteratureInventory and Valuation of the furniture and effects at Spetchley Park, Worcester, The Property of R.G. Berkeley, Esquire, December 1949, listed in the 'Middle Hall', p. 117 (as Dahl).Catalogue noteAdmiral Sir Charles Wager (1666-1743) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He served mainly in the West Indies and after his successful expedition in Cartagena he was knighted in 1709. Furthermore, Wager was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty and Treasurer of the Navy around 1734. He was involved in the development of new bases in the Caribbean and was an early innovator in the use of citrus fruits against scurvy. He was subsequently elected MP for Westminster where his opinion was highly regarded, and his written letters survive to this day. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
The most notable likeness of Admiral Sir Charles Wager is a three-quarter-length portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller in the National Maritime Museum, London.11 https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-14547