Sir Walter Raleigh 18th Century Oil Portrait After the Celebrated Lennard Type

Sir Walter Raleigh — An Elizabethan Icon Reimagined in Georgian England

An 18th-Century English School Oil-on-Panel Portrait Related to the Lennard Tradition, With Woolley & Wallis Provenance and Historic Inventory Mark FY 730

Highlights

• English School, 18th century.

• Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552–1618).

• Oil on wood panel.

• Bust-length composition within a painted oval.

• Related to the later “Lennard Type” portrait tradition.

• Rich red costume, elaborate white ruff and black feathered hat.

• Documented Woolley & Wallis provenance.

• Old Masters, British & European Paintings, 5 March 2025, Lot 156.

• Historic black stencilled inventory mark “FY 730” preserved to the reverse.

• Original significance of FY 730 remains the subject of provenance research.

• Subsequently exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.

• Decorative aged gilt frame.

• A fascinating intersection of Elizabethan iconography and Georgian historical collecting.

Introduction

This intimate 18th-century English School portrait presents Sir Walter Raleigh not merely as an Elizabethan courtier but as a historical personality whose image continued to fascinate collectors long after his death.

Painted in oil on wood panel, Raleigh appears bust-length within a painted oval, magnificently dressed in red with a white ruff and broad black feathered hat.

Further research places the painting within the wider visual lineage surrounding the celebrated “Lennard Type” of Raleigh and the engraved interpretations derived from that tradition.

The reverse adds another intriguing dimension: the historic black stencilled inventory mark FY 730, potentially preserving evidence of an earlier stage in the painting's collection or art-market history.

Catalogue Details

Artist: English School

Date: 18th Century

Sitter: Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552–1618)

Medium: Oil on Wood Panel

Composition: Bust-Length Within a Painted Oval

Portrait Tradition: After / Related to the Later “Lennard Type”

Signed: Unsigned

Verso: Historic Black Stencilled Inventory Mark “FY 730”

Frame: Decorative Aged Gilt Frame

Catalogue Note

Woolley & Wallis catalogued the painting in March 2025 as an 18th-century English School portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh.

The composition belongs to a broader visual tradition through which Raleigh's likeness continued to circulate following his death.

An especially useful comparison is a separate portrait recorded by Christie's depicting Raleigh bust-length in a red coat, lace ruff and black hat within a feigned oval. Christie's describes that work as after an engraving of the “Lennard type”.

The Christie's painting is not represented as the present work. Its importance is comparative, demonstrating an established tradition of painted portraits based upon this particular Raleigh iconography.

The Lennard Portrait Tradition

The important 1602 portrait of Raleigh and his eldest son Walter became a significant source for subsequent representations.

Through later engraved interpretations, Raleigh's likeness could circulate widely among collectors.

This was especially relevant during the 18th century, when representations of notable historical personalities became increasingly desirable within British collections.

The present panel therefore operates on two historical levels: it commemorates an Elizabethan personality while simultaneously reflecting Georgian Britain's fascination with its national past.

Verso Inventory Mark “FY 730”

The reverse bears the historic black stencilled identifier FY 730.

Its form is consistent with an inventory or stock marking rather than an artist's inscription.

Historic paintings frequently accumulated such identifiers as they passed through private collections, dealers, auction houses and other custodians.

Research has identified comparable black stencilled inventory practices within the historic art market. Nevertheless, no archival evidence presently connects FY 730 with a particular organisation.

It is therefore recorded conservatively as:

Historic black stencilled inventory mark “FY 730”; original source presently unidentified and under research.

This exact identifier is retained in the catalogue record in the hope that future archival research may establish an earlier stage of the painting's history.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Soldier, explorer, courtier, writer and poet, Sir Walter Raleigh became one of the defining personalities of Elizabeth I's reign.

He received a royal patent connected with colonisation in 1584 and was knighted in 1585.

Raleigh became closely associated with England's early overseas ambitions and attempts to establish settlements in North America.

Following Elizabeth's death, his fortunes deteriorated under James I. He spent many years imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he worked upon his History of the World.

Following a final South American expedition, Raleigh was executed in 1618.

His remarkable life ensured his transformation from Elizabethan courtier into an enduring British historical icon.

Provenance

Private Southern England collection, according to accompanying documentation.

Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, Old Masters, British & European Paintings, 5 March 2025, Lot 156, catalogued as English School, 18th Century, Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh (c.1552–1618).

Acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Subsequently loaned & privately exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.

Reverse bearing historic black stencilled inventory mark “FY 730”, presently unidentified and retained as an important provenance research lead.

Dimensions

Framed:

Height: 29.5 cm

Width: 24.5 cm

Depth: 3.2 cm

Condition Report

Presented in fine preserved antique condition.

The painted surface displays age-related craquelure, foxing / staining and evidence of historic intervention or retouching consistent with age and previous stewardship.

The decorative gilt frame displays rubbing, scuffs, surface marks and minor losses commensurate with age.

Please refer carefully to all accompanying photographs as they form an integral part of the condition assessment.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The portrait will be professionally packed for safe transit with particular attention given to protecting the historic wooden panel, painted surface and decorative frame.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.