Arthur Devis

By descent in the sitter's family at Eltham Lodge, Kent;
With E.J. Rousuck of Scott & Fowles, New York, by 1927 (erroneously recorded as depicting Sir Thomas Shaw);
Mrs Frances Kelly Wood;
By whose estate sold to Lee;
From whom acquired by Partridge & Sons, London, by 1977.

S. H. Paviere, The Devis Family of Painters, Leigh-on-Sea 1950, p. 55, no. 126, reproduced fig. 12 (erroneously recorded as depicting Sir Thomas Shaw);
E. G. D'Oench, Arthur Devis (1712-1787): Master of the Georgian Conversation Piece, PhD, Yale 1979, p. 408, cat. no. 141.
E. G. D'Oench, The Conversation Piece, Arthur Devis and his Contemporaries, New Haven 1980, p. 87, no. 141.

The painting is in overall good condition, with no extant damages or loss of paint. The canvas has been lined and the surface of the paint is stable and in good condition. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals two small areas of minor retouching in the tree, upper left, and scattered minor retouching an infilling in the sky. The painting has clearly been lightly cleaned in the past, however there are still the remnants of an old varnish, that is slightly opaque, overall. The painting is held in a carved and gilded Carlo Maratta style frame, and it is ready to hang with no need for conservation or restoration.
"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."

Soon after the execution of this portrait the sitter commissioned from Devis a large portrait of his family in the park at Eltham Lodge which he exhibited with the Free Society in 1763.¹ This painting, now in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, depicts Sir John seated next to his second wife, Martha Kenward (1730-94), whom he married in 1752. At their feet are depicted three sons; the eldest is John Shaw, the only son by Sir John's first wife Elizabeth (d. 1750), the two younger boys are John Gregory Shaw (1756-1831), who inherited Eltham Lodge but lived at Kenward, Kent, and his brother John Kenward Shaw, later Brooke (1758-1840), who was to become a noted local vicar.  

1. See D'Oench 1980, p. 64, cat. no. 39, reproduced fig. 39.