Jean-Baptiste van Loo (Aix-en-Provence, 1684 - 1745) entourageTraces of illegible signature at the bottom right Portrait of William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705 – 1793) Oil on canvas (76 x 63 cm - Framed 91 x 77 cm) Complete painting details (click HERE) An English nobleman is immortalized in our portrait, dressed neatly but not excessively flashy, revealing his belonging to an aristocratic family or the British bourgeoisie of the first half of the 18th century. The effigy poses naturally while observing the viewer, aware of his rank, in adherence to the pictorial custom of the time which, to express a feeling, required painters to hint at emotions, without making them explicit, and therefore vulgar. There are no inscriptions that reveal its precise identity, but nevertheless, based on comparison with some prints and paintings of the time, we can associate its features with William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (1705 – 1793), British judge, politician and lawyer, best known for his reforms of English law. Considered the most prominent British jurist of the 18th century, Mansfield's decisions reflected the Enlightenment and led the country towards the abolition of slavery. This is a type of portrait typically requested by the nobility, especially English, between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, where the effigy loved to see himself portrayed stripped of his ornaments, without pompous clothes, fashionable accessories or elaborate hairstyles, this to demonstrate that his status and his value did not depend solely on the material wealth exhibited with opulence. As for the paternity, carefully observing the fine features of the effigy, we can find convincing points of contact with the painter of French origins Jean-Baptiste van Loo, who stayed in England from about 1737 to 1742, a period of great success for the painter as a portrait painter, and his works from this period are considered among his most important. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold complete with a pleasant gilded wooden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Please contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/