Georgian Scottish Portrait Sir James Campbell Attributed to William Aikman c.1720

Georgian Scottish Portrait Sir James Campbell Attributed to William Aikman c.1720 An important early Georgian Scottish military portrait attributed to William Aikman (1682–1731), depicting Sir James Campbell of Lawers and Rowallan. Probably dating to circa 1720, the portrait presents Campbell half-length in a brilliant scarlet military coat over an elaborately decorated waistcoat and white neckcloth. Campbell became Colonel of the Scots Greys and subsequently rose to Lieutenant-General. He served as Governor of Edinburgh Castle and distinguished himself commanding cavalry at Dettingen in 1743, following which George II invested him with the Order of the Bath. He was mortally wounded during the Fontenoy campaign in 1745. The attribution to Aikman predates the present ownership. An older frame plaque naming William Aikman survives together with an apparent “Wm Aikman” attribution verso. Of particular significance, the National Galleries of Scotland holds an accepted William Aikman portrait of the same sitter, dated after 1711. Aikman additionally received extensive patronage from the wider Campbell political and aristocratic circle. Provenance: Earlier provenance presently unrecorded. Sloane Street Auctions, London, The Old Master Sale, 3 July 2024, Lot 183, catalogued as Attributed to William Aikman, A portrait of Sir James Campbell. Acquired from the above by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. 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.