Lot 169
  • 169

William Russell Birch 1755-1834

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Description

  • William Russell Birch
  • The Young Shepherdess
  • signed (verso): Painted from a Picture of / Sir J. Reynolds's by / W/ Birch / 1782

  • enamel
  • 11 by 10 cm., 4 1/2 by 4 in.

Catalogue Note

After the painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., (1723-1792) The Young Shepherdess Resting on a Wooden Fence, with her flock before her (see D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A complete catalogue of his Painting, 2000, nos. 2162-3, pls. 1700-1701). Interestingly the composition was not engraved by Grozer until 1784 so it is probable that Birch worked directly from the original painting.   

Birch exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1794, and is recorded as having executed other enamel miniatures after the works of Reynolds. Following his last exhibition at the Royal Academy he travelled to America and settled in Philadephia where he died in 1834.