British School
(18th Century)

"Portrait of John Freeman of Gaines, County Hereford, and His Sons John and Thomas"

oil on canvas
unsigned, later inscription upper right with bibliographical information on sitters.
Framed.
50" x 40", framed 57-1/2" x 47"

Provenance: Estate of Ida Gray Reeves Graham, Ruston, Louisiana.

Literature: Burke, John, Esq., Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland,London: R. Bentley, 1836, Vol. III, p. 642.

Notes: According to genealogical and contemporaneous accounts, John Freeman wed Abigail Jones of the Orchards, Hereford in 1762 and they had five children. In addition to the two sons included in the portrait offered here, they also had three daughters, Betty, Abigail and Ann. Abigail died April 21, 1762, bequeathing her family estate to her eldest son and various other property and goods to the remaining four children and her husband. John Freeman died September 3, 1764, by which time he had been preceded in death by his daughter Abigail.

Previously relined; horizontal area across painting in the upper quarter with inpainting; areas that are difficult to penetrate the varnish layer with UV light. Areas of inpainting include lower center (man's jacket and child's face and clothes); lower left corner; lower left (man's clothes and chair); upper right (in and around lettering); lower left (child's sleeve and background) and upper mid left and right (background). Small areas of flaking not painting in mid left (chair). Frame with signs of past restorations; surface marks and nicks.