Original painting "Scottish soldiers collecting contribution from the citizens...", signed by artist Sir David Wilkie R.A.(?) Material: Oil on Canvas Canvas is torn along the upper left edge of the stretcher. Age: 19th century. Size of the canvas: 9 x 12 inches = 23 cm x 30.5 cm. Size of the triple frame: 21 x 25 inches = 54.8 cm x 63.8 cm Weight with a frame: 8 lb Magnification research Condition is good for the age with natural aging of the wood frame and canvas. This is an oil painting on canvas with light brush strokes. There is an old (not restored varnish), delicate cracks/crackelures all over the canvas, including background, soldiers figures, their boots and Wilkies signature. Research under ultraviolet light Results of ultraviolet research: In ultraviolet light black boots of soldiers and signature stand out. It does not look like in-paint or over paint, because black color absorbs all kind of light and may stand out. In the left low corner there is a bright spot 8x7 mm, which may represent wear and repair. Pants of sitting soldier are more prominent than background. The edge on the right has some bright elongated spots - later repairs? Biography Sir David Wilkie, a Scottish painter, was born in Cults manse in Fife in 1785. In 1799, he was sent to study at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh and on his return home in 1804, painted his Pitlessie Fair. The Village Politicians (1806) was of great success which made him settle in London. In 1817, he visited Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford, and painted the family group now in the Scottish National Gallery. His fame mainly rests on his genre pictures in the Dutch style, such as the Distraining for Rent (1815), The Penny Wedding (1818), The Letter of Introduction (1818) and others. Later he changed his style, tried to imitate the depth and richness of coloring of the old masters and chose more elevated historical subjects, like The Preaching of John Knox before the Lords of Congregation, 10 June 1559. He also painted portraits William Chalmers-Bethune, his wife Isabella Morison and their Daughter Isabella (1804), and was successful as an etcher. In 1823, he was appointed Kings limner in Scotland, and in 1830 painter-in-ordinary to King William IV. In 1840, for his health, he visited Syria, Palestine and Egypt, but died on his voyage home. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS, (21 December 1804 19 April 1881) was a British Prime Minister, parliamentarian, Conservative statesman and literary figure. He served in government for three decades, twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Although his father had him baptized to Anglicanism at age 12, he was nonetheless the country's first and thus far only Prime Minister who was born into a Jewish family. He played an instrumental role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party after the Corn Laws schism of 1846. Although a major figure in the protectionist wing of the Conservative Party after 1844, Disraeli's relations with the other leading figures in the party, particularly Lord Derby, the overall leader, were often strained. Not until the 1860s would Derby and Disraeli be on easy terms, and the latter's succession of the former assured. From 1852 onwards, Disraeli's career would also be marked by his often intense rivalry with William Ewart Gladstone, who eventually rose to become leader of the Liberal Party. In this feud, Disraeli was aided by his warm friendship with Queen Victoria, who came to detest Gladstone during the latter's first premiership in the 1870s. In 1876 Disraeli was raised to the peerage as the Earl of Beaconsfield, capping nearly four decades in the House of Commons. Before and during his political career, Disraeli was well-known as a literary and social figure, although his novels are not generally regarded as a part of the Victorian literary canon. He mainly wrote romances, of which Sybil and Vivian Grey are perhaps the best-known today. He is exceptional among British Prime Ministers for having gained equal social and political renown. He was twice successful as the Glasgow University Conservative Association's candidate for Rector of the University, holding the post for two full terms between 1871 and 1877.
Condition Canvas is torn along the upper left edge of the stretcher. The frame is original and old.
Low Estimate: 25000;
High Estimate: 50000;
Original: Yes;
Medium: Oil Paint;
Circa: 1815;
Style: Classicism;