Lot 50: JOHN HOSKINS (BRITISH, C. 1590-1665)

A superb miniature of a young gentleman, in black doublet with buttons, black cloak draped over his right shoulder, white collar with tassels, long curling brown hair; pillar and landscape background with a bridge and mountains beyond
signed with initials and dated '1654 I H.' (upper left)
on vellum
oval, 2 5/8 in. (66 mm.) high, gilt-metal frame with spiral cresting

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY

In the 1630s, Hoskins introduced landscape or sky backgrounds into his work. His cabinet miniature of Katherine Bruce, Mrs Dysart, of 1638, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, inv. HH274-1948 (see J. Murdoch, Seventeenth Century English Miniatures, London, 1997, illustrated in colour opp. frontispiece) demonstrated what Edward Norgate regarded as essential 'As for Lanscape behind pictures they are very excellent, when well done, and the ground large enough to afford roome' (Miniatura, MS text of c. 1648).

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.