‘Lost’ Bach portrait in Surrey sale

Surrey auctioneers John Nicholson’s are to offer what is thought to be an important lost portrait of the composer Johann Christian Bach at their Fine Paintings sale on March 29th in Fernhurst.

Attributed to the Italian painter Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (1708-87) – but thought by some to be from the hand of a young Johann Zoffany (1733-1810) – the 38 x 29-inch oil on canvas shows Bach (1735-82) seated at a desk, with a marble bust, wearing a wig, a gold waistcoat and red coat.

It was exhibited in Eisenach, Germany, near to where the Bach family came from, but its whereabouts have been unknown for the past 20 years.

The painting has an estimate of £20,000-£30,000.