- 72
JOHN SMART | Portrait of Lady Oakeley, née Helena Beatson (1762-1839)
Estimate
14,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description
- Smart
- Portrait of Lady Oakeley, née Helena Beatson (1762-1839)
- Watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, gold frame, with diamond border;signed with the artist's monogram and dated lower left: J.S. / 1786 / I.
- 62 by 45 mm.
Provenance
By descent in the sitter's family until,
W.H. Wodehouse;
sale, London, Christie's, 6 December 1899, lot 78 (together with the previous lot in this sale);
Edward M. Hodgkins, London;
John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York, 1906;
sale, London, Christie's, 24 June 1935, lot 443;
Walter, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882-1948),
by descent to his son Marcus, 3rd Viscount Bearsted (1909-1986);
sale, London, Christie's, 27 March 1984, lot 290 (together with the previous lot in this sale)
W.H. Wodehouse;
sale, London, Christie's, 6 December 1899, lot 78 (together with the previous lot in this sale);
Edward M. Hodgkins, London;
John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York, 1906;
sale, London, Christie's, 24 June 1935, lot 443;
Walter, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882-1948),
by descent to his son Marcus, 3rd Viscount Bearsted (1909-1986);
sale, London, Christie's, 27 March 1984, lot 290 (together with the previous lot in this sale)
Exhibited
Paris, 1906, no. 14;
Edinburgh,1965, no. 232
Edinburgh,1965, no. 232
Literature
Williamson, 1906-1908, vol. II, no. 232, pl. LXXIV;
Williamson, May 1907, p. 4, no. LII, illust.;
Williamson, 1921, p. 140, pl. XXV, no. 1;
Dodwell, London, 1926, p. 171;
Long, 1929, p. 408;
Foster, 1930-1931, p. 69;
Schidlof, 1964, vol. II, p. 763, as 'excellent';
Foskett, 1964, pp. xxi, 19, 29, 36 (as 'attractive and graceful'), 71, pl. XVIII, no. 67;
Archer, 1972, pl. 17;
Archer, 1979, pp. 120, 121 & 391, illust. p. 392, no. 296
Williamson, May 1907, p. 4, no. LII, illust.;
Williamson, 1921, p. 140, pl. XXV, no. 1;
Dodwell, London, 1926, p. 171;
Long, 1929, p. 408;
Foster, 1930-1931, p. 69;
Schidlof, 1964, vol. II, p. 763, as 'excellent';
Foskett, 1964, pp. xxi, 19, 29, 36 (as 'attractive and graceful'), 71, pl. XVIII, no. 67;
Archer, 1972, pl. 17;
Archer, 1979, pp. 120, 121 & 391, illust. p. 392, no. 296
Condition
Very fine order.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Helena Beatson was the only daughter of Robert Beatson of Killerie, Fife, Scotland. She grew up to be artistically talented, charming and admired by her contemporaries. The novelist Fanny Burney (1752-1840) recalled, for example, that ‘she is not absolutely handsome yet infinitely attractive... She is sensible, smart, quick and comical…a most astonishing genius though never taught. She groups figures of children in the most ingenious, playful and beautiful sanity of attitudes and employment …' In 1775, she sailed to India with her aunt, the pastel painter Katherine Read (1723-1778) and in 1777 she married Charles Oakeley of the East India Company (see the previous lot).