Studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds P.R.A. 1723-1792

Hon. Frederick Byng, by whose executors sold, Christie's, 1st July 1871, lot 63, bt. Rutley for 10 gns;

George Cavendish Bentinck, M.P., by whose executors sold, Christie's, 11th July 1891, lot 554, bt. James for £78-15;

John Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock (1813-1912), The Hendre, Monmouthshire;

By descent to his son, John Rolls, 2nd Baron Llangattock (1870-1916), South Lodge, Knightsbridge, by whose executors sold, Christie's, 8th December 1916, lot 63

Grosvenor Gallery, 1884, no.15;

Royal Academy, Winter Exhibition, 1906, no.65;

Bermondsey Settlement Exhibition

The sitter has been identified variously as Dr Johnson's black servant, Francis or Frank Barber, who features in Boswell's Life, Reynolds's own black servant mentioned by Northcote, or Omai. There is no firm evidence for any of these three identifications, but when Sir George Beaumont lent the prime version to be exhibited at the British Institution it was catalogued as 'Black servant of Sir Joshua'.

The prototype for this picture is in the Menil Foundation, Houston, Texas.