Useful biographical details of James and William Gandy can be found here:

https://books.google.ie/books?id=7RwwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA327&dq;="james+Gandy"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQpsqJjbXZAhVrCcAKHZh8DFwQ6AEILzAB#v=onepage&q="james Gandy"&f=false

Unless there is an earlier individual sharing the same sequence of names, the attribution to John Peter Gandy (aka Sir John Peter Deering) is highly questionable, as he was an architect, living from 1787 - 1850, and was a member of the Royal Academy, submitting only architectural designs and drawings to that august institution. See the following for details:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peter_Gandy

Additionally, David Erskine, Lord Dun, was so created in 1710. He was born in 1670 and died in 1758. His brother, James Erskine was born in 1671 and died after 1745. See:

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1715-1754/member/erskine-james-1671-1745

In 1690, James Erskine would have been 19 years old. This discussion's painting does not appear to be of a 19-year-old. It is most likely, therefore, that it does not depict the James Erskine mentioned in the work's title. By deduction, it is therefore also unlikely to have been painted by the James Gandy referenced by Tim Williams above, as James Erskine would have been 18 when James Gandy died in 1689.

Stalled 2018 discussion: how about starting from the start?

Where does the 'John Gandy' attribution come from?
Is the 'John Gandy' attribution from the 1980 accession record?
Is indeed the painted signed at all?
Any inscription at the front or the back?
Any provenance before the bequeathing?

If the sitter is as given, the picture must be later than 1690, more like c. 1710, and thus could not be by James Gandy. The dates for William Gandy are c. 1655-1729, and there are many works by him here:

https://bit.ly/3hSwF8Q

Guillaume, thank you for re-starting the discussion and Jacinto for responding. I've asked the collection for help with these questions. Our contact returns from leave in early August.

The NTS Curator for North and North West Scotland has commented,

'There is no date/signature on this painting but the family member and the style of dress is c.1690; therefore it could be 1689 which would fit in with the artist James Gandy who died in 1689.

However, looking at the bio of the artist, it appears his main clientele were in Ireland and not Scotland.

I am afraid that the painting is in a property around 2 hours away so it is not on site for me to check. I would suggest an attribution of "circle of" James Gandy.'

James Gandy was an Irish artist - and the style of this painting is certainly Irish, not Scottish - and his patrons included the Molyneuxs and O'Neills. Some Irish Molyneux portraits are in Liverpool coming from the collection at Croxteth - Earl of Sefton's - including one of Richard Molyneux still unattributed. The National Gallery of Ireland should be able to help over this portrait. It has a significant National Portrait Collection
There have been serious exhibitions of Irish portraits which included paintings of the 17th and early 18th century [with catalogues]

Thanks for that suggestion, Martin. I've sent an enquiry to the National Gallery of Ireland.

I had a look at William Gandy in the NPG archive this morning. It is not obvious that our portrait is by this artist whose pictures are stronger and more sophisticated. For a good article, see Jane Fenlon, 'The Talented and Idle Mr William Gandy in Ireland', Irish Arts Review Yearbook, vol.12, 1996, p.131ff.

The head is weaker than the armour, as the picture now stands (which may not be its original state). The one picture on Art UK by James Gandy has relatively weak faces https://tinyurl.com/2wpspyya

William Gandy's portrait https://tinyurl.com/mrfj8u7p of the Duke of Ormonde is clearly better than our picture. Interestingly, James Gandy may have started out as a drapery painter in England before going to Ireland, which may account for the relative weakness of his faces versus the attire of the sitters.

Can Lou Taylor suggest a date based on the wig?

Early 1700s

Yes, Jacob, I would agree, so it cannot be by James Gandy (d. 1689), and it does not appear good enough to be by his son William (unless the face has been altered).

So on that basis, we have the answer to the discussion question, "Is this painting by James Gandy, his son William Gandy, or another?"

It is "another"! The nature of this portrait is such that I suspect that identifying the artist is not feasible.

Perhaps the acquisition record could be updated. I'm personally not keen on married women's names being so vague. The donor would have been Mrs. Millicent Alison Augusta Lovett (née Kennedy-Erskine) (1899–1980).

She would also have been the "Mrs. Lovett" who donated the portrait of her aunt Violet Augusta Mary Frederica Jacob (née Kennedy-Erskine) (1863-1946).
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/violet-jacob-128030/

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Violet, who was a novelist and poet.
https://tinyurl.com/yh4u2mx6

An article about the "treasures" of Dun House from the 'Dundee Courier' of the 17th of November 1926 mentions the portrait of "Captain James Erskine" but does not supply the artist's name.

"She [Miss Kennedy-Erskine] showed me portraits of David Erskine, Lord Dun, who rebuilt the house in 1730, and of Magdalene, his practical, frugal wife, who ran the place for him, and also of Lord Dun's elder brother, Captain James Erskine, who was disinherited because he married against his family's wishes."