11th Nov, 2025 10:00
Old Master, British and European Art
213
Attributed to Spoilum (Chinese, fl.1774-1805)
Portrait of James Guthrie Patterson, half-length, in uniform
oil on paper laid on canvas, oval
42.5 x 36cm
James Guthrie Patterson was the son of Graham Bower, the last Laird of Kincaldrum in Forfarshire, Scotland and his wife Emelie Guthrie of Craigie. He is reported to have been killed at Seringapatam on 15 May 1791 in the Third Anglo-Mysore War, fought between forces of the British East India Company under the command of Charles, Earl Cornwallis, with their allies the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Maratha Confederacy, and Tipu Sultan, ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He is said to have fallen while leading the charge of his troop of the 19th Light Dragoons.
The regiment, originally the 23rd Light Dragoons when raised in 1781 for service in India, was re-numbered the 19th and remained in India for twenty-four years, for fourteen of which it was the only cavalry regiment serving there. It played a major part in the campaigns of 1790, 1791 and 1792 against Tipu and was involved in the crowning victory at Seringapatam in 1799.
The Chinese artist known as Spoilum was active between c.1780 and 1810 in Guangzhou (formerly Canton), the only port at which Western merchants were allowed to trade at the time. His portraits, painted in oil primarily for the Western market, included Chinese dignitiaries, both British and American merchants, and also sea captains and officers of the East India Company who were passing through the city.
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Sold for £10,000
Condition Report
Framed: 48 x 40cm
Craquelure. A fine vertical crack runs across the upper third, crossing the sitter's hair. A border of discolouration to edges. There is a small area of scratching to the right of the sitter's forehead. Under UV light, there are fine lines of retouching visible in the sitter’s hair, please refer to the additional images for reference. There are slight rubbing marks to the right of the figure’s head, as previously mentioned. In our opinion, it appears that the body of the sitter may have been painted at a later date.
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Auction: Old Master, British and European Art, 11th Nov, 2025
Viewing
London Viewing | Highlights
A selection of lots will be on view Monday 13 - Friday 24 October at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:
Monday-Friday, 11am - 5.30pm
Saturday - Closed
Sunday - Closed
For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 7 November, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 9 November, 10am - 1pm
Monday 10 November, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
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