Lot 25076: Attributed to JOHN WOLLASTON (English circa 1775)

Attributed to JOHN WOLLASTON (English circa 1775)
Portrait of a Young Man said to be Washington: The Leger Portrait, circa 1759
Oil on panel
13 x 10-1/2 inches
Unsigned

PROVENANCE:
J. Leger and Company, New York

This painting, known as the "Leger Portrait," is published and pictured in the book Portrait of Washington by Gustavus A. Eisen, published in 1932.

"The Leger Portrait Portrait. Painted in the style of Wollaston. Size 12-3/4 by 10-3/4 inches. History unknown. Present owner: J. Leger and Co., New York. Painted in oil on copper plate. By some identified as Washington at the age of 27. Coat blue, waistcoat yellow, embroidered; turned down collar, red; lace jabot, open; lace wrist ruffles."

According to the book, "Wallaston's portrait of Washington's sister, Betty (Mrs. Fielding Lewis), painted in 1758, a time when Wollaston painted various members of the Washington family and some of their friends. Owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, it is now returned to Kenmore, the home of the Lewis family near Fredericksburg, Virginia, having been loaned to the manor for a time of 99 years. The portrait in question resembles Wollaston's painting of Betty (Mrs. Fielding Lewis) as to the eyes and their color, the hair and its color and the width of the nose between the eyes. The upturned eyes is only a Wollaston peculiarity.