Early 18th Century Portrait Of Judith Morice - Attributed To Enoch Seeman (1694-1744)

Period Portraits are proud to offer for your consideration, this vibrant and quality 18th century portrait of the elegant Judith Morice (1710 -1743) attributed to Enoch Seeman (1694-1744) Judith stands before a plinth and draperies dressed of a very fashionable costume consisting of a shimmering blue silk dress edged with scallops with a fine lace collar and cuffs. At her waist is a small white silk bow and at her chest is a larger bow which contains a drop of pearl. There are also pearls in her elegantly upturned hair. The result is a fine, charming and remarkably simple portrait of the early 18th century. Enoch Seeman (1694 - 1744) was born in 1694 in Danzig, Germany, where his father had settled as a painter. It is possible that the famous "virtuoso" German painter, Balthasar Denner, who received some of his early painting instruction in Danzig, was a pupil of Seeman's father, as some of Seeman's early paintings were executed in imitation of the manner of Denner. Among these were a portrait of himself at the age of nineteen and an old woman's head in which the wrinkles, the hair, the fabric of the clothes are drawn in the minute manner which is seen in the works. by Denner. Seeman was brought by his father, when he was young, to London, and practiced there as a very successful portrait painter. He resided in St. Martin's Lane and initially styled himself "Enoch Seeman, Junior". He was a good portrait painter and his portraits of ladies were much admired. His portraits or groups of portraits were sometimes on a very large scale, such as the imposing painting of the Lappish giant, Gaianus, painted in 1734, now in Dalkeith Palace, and the family group of Sir John Cust at Belton House, Grantham. The artist often painted his own portrait, in which he is seen in an animated attitude, with long flowing hair. An example is in the Royal Picture Gallery in Dresden and was engraved by JG Schmidt. Another, with his daughter in boys' clothes, was in Strawberry Hill. A portrait by him of Sir Isaac Newton, formerly in the possession of Thomas Hollis, FSA, was engraved in the mezzotint by J. MacArdell. Seeman also painted George II, Queen Caroline (a portrait of him in the National Portrait Gallery), and other members of the royal family. He died suddenly in 1744. His son, Paul Seeman, painted portraits and still lifes, and his three brothers were all ingenious painters and artists, one of whom, Isaac Seeman, died in London on April 4, 1751. Judith Morice ( 1710 -1743) was the second daughter of Humphry Morice of Werrington, near Launceston, Cornwall. She married Whig politician Sir George Lee on June 5, 1742. Also painted by Alan Ramsey as Diana (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), she died July 19, 1743, aged 33, and is buried in the Lee family vault at Hartwell Church. . This beautiful painting is in excellent vintage condition and is presented ready to hang in a beautiful quality Lely style frame. High resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available. Canvas: 44” x 38" / 114cm x 197cm. Frame: 52.5" x 45.5" / 133cm x 116cm.