Unrecognized portrait by Thomas Murray

Versailles Enchères, an obviously French auction house, sold on 21 June an "English School, 18th century" full-length portrait of a man, estimated at 6,000 to 8,000 Euro despite some damage. The rather steep estimate for an anonymous portrait meant that it ended the auction unsold.

The description listed an inscription on the painting, "Sir Robt Salus Byi Cotton Bart". With some effort, this led to the identification of the sitter, "Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton", with the "Bart" meaning "baronet" of course. To be more precise, the third of the same name, living between 1695 and 1748. The National Portrait Gallery has an image of him, but doesn't show it on the website. Luckily the Fitzwilliam has the same engraving.

This mezzotint was made by George White after a painting by Thomas Murray (1663-1734). As the engraving exactly matches the painting for sale, we can safely conclude that this anonymous English portrait is by Thomas Murray (or a direct copy of his work, which seems less likely considering the high quality). In that case, it should have been worth at least the lower estimate, and probably up to 15,000 Euro.

I had dropped a note about this painting with a colleague who is more specialized in these things, but apparently he didn't buy it. Hence my posting after the fact here! With some luck, it will reappear at auction with a lower estimate