Thomas Gainsborough R.A. 1727 - 1788

half length, standing, wearing a brown coat, yellow waistcoat, white stock and holding a letter

Lewis Corkran, Bombay, and thence by descent in the Corkran family;
with Sedelmeyer in 1912 and sold by their heirs at Hotel Drouot, Paris, 23rd November 1927, lot 21;
with van Dieman Galleries and Lillienfeld Galleries, New York from about 1929 to 1933;
Anonymous sale, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 27th May 1946, lot 21, where bt. by the father of the present owner

Sedelmeyer Galleries, Paris, Twelfth Series of Hundred Paintings, 1913, no. 79;
San Diego Art Institute, 1930;
Fogg Art Museum, Exhibition of 18th Century English Painting in Honour of Professor Chauncey B. Tinker, May 1930, no. 31;
Cincinnati Art Museum, Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by Thomas Gainsborough, R.A., May 1931, no. 14;
Newhouse Galleries, New York, Opening Exhibition, January-February 1932, no. 12;
California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, Loan Exhibition of Engish Painting of the late Eighteenth Century and Early Nineteenth Century, June-July 1933, no. 15

E.K. Waterhouse, 'Preliminary Check List of Portraits by Thomas Gainsborough', Walpole Society, 1953, Vol. XXXIII, p. 53;
E.K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, 1958, p. 72, no. 342

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The sitter appears to be in good condition. However there are areas of paint loss around a tear in the canvas of 3½ in. to the upper left hand corner, and some paint loss to the upper right, centre right and extreme lower right of the painting. There are some scattered surface scratches to the bottom of the canvas, which could easily be re-touched. ULTRAVIOLET Ultraviolet light reveals scattered and light re-touching, limited to the background of the painting. FRAME The painting is unframed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Mr Hammond was an East India Merchant. He is painted holding a letter to Lewis Corkran, his agent in Bombay. We are grateful to Hugh Belsey for dating the portrait to circa 1780. A reduced copy of this portrait is in the J.B. Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.