#walter frier

[electronicgallery]

Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar with an African Attendant by Walter Frier (British, 1685-1761)

[lagloiredenosperes]

[medievalpoc]

One of the best parts of doing this work over the course of years is that I keep find bigger, better, and higher resolution photographs of my all-time favorite works. This woman from Zanzibar (ostensibly) holding a pangolin has captured my imagination ever since I first laid eyes on a photo of a reproduction-of-a-reproduction; five days ago Sotheby’s posted this big, clear image. Check out the full painting + details here; they’ve also transcribed the inscription on the back of it. <3

[galleryofunknowns]

Walter Frier (b.1685 - d.1761), ‘Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar with an African Attendant’, c.1731, British, est. 70,000-80,000 GBP at Sothebys Old Masters Day Sale, November 2017, London

[medievalpoc]

thehungrywoman submitted:

Can you tell me the artist of the last painting on the top right? The woman with pearls and the ribbon around her head?

Sure!

The painting is by Walter Frier, and it’s described as Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar with an African Attendant:

[bigger]

The inscription on the back reads:

John Henderson of Fordell Travelling in his youth thro Several parts of Asia and Africa from ye 1618 to ye 1628 was delivered unto Slavery by a Barbari Prince in Zanquebar on the Cost of Africa where a Princess of that Countrie contrived to the mians of both their Escape and getting aboard a ship trading up ye Red Sea landed and cam to Alexandrea where she died whose Picture Mr Henderson cauised take with her black Maid after their own country habit. From ye original picture at Oterston by W Frier, 1731.

[artfoli]

Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar with an African attendant, by Walter Frier.

[jeannepompadour]

Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar with an African attendant by Walter Frier,  an 18th c. reproduction of 17th c. original