“Sir Nicholas Lechmere

“Sir Nicholas Lechmere" (1613-1701) by Valentine Green (1739-1813)

Code: 10682

Dimensions:

H: 30cm (11.8")W: 25.5cm (10")

SOLD

"Sir Nicholas Lechmere" (1613-1701)
Valentine Green, A.R.A. (1739-1813)
after George Powle (active 1764-1773)
Mezzotint
Published London, 1776
15.3 cm x 11.5 cm (6 in. x 4 1/2 in.) plate size
30.0 cm x 25.5 cm (11.9 in. x 10 in.) framed

The chief interest in this picture is not derived from the print but from the frame it is contained within. The stencil on the backboard for "J. NOSEDA, 109 STRAND, LONDON, W.C." confirms that the print came from the pioneering female art dealer Jane Noseda (b.1813/14, died c1894) "one of the earliest dealers to make a special feature of mezzotint portraits". The obituary of her son Urban, which appeared in 'The Times' April 6th 1909, records that Mrs Noseda's shop in the Strand was "a favourite haunt with collectors...The window was always tastefully decorated with scarce and interesting prints, and the shop ‘papered’ with framed examples, chiefly English and for the most part portraits".

Mezzotint portrait of Sir Nicholas Letchmere within an oval, facing forward wearing judicial robes. Lettered beneat the image "G. Powle delint. V. Green, vigorniesis e sculptoribus regiae Magestatis ari incisit" with the title "Nicholas Lechmere Knt. BARON of the Exchequer.-/ Born 1613, Died 1701. / From an Original Picture." and publication line "Published Jan 1st, 1776". A portrait of the English lawyer and member of parliament, Sir Nicholas Lechmere (1613-1701) who came to prominence during the Civil War. After the Restoration he was appointed Reader of the Middle Temple and a Baron of the Exchequer.