Sir Joshua Reynolds P.R.A. Plympton, Devon 1723-1792 London

Palmer family (according to the Blakeslee sale catalogue);
J. H. McFadden;
From whom purchased by Agnew's, November 22, 1909;
With Thos. Agnew & Sons, Ltd., London;
From whom purchased by T. J. Blakeslee, July 22, 1910;
With Blakeslee Gallery, New York;
Their sale, New York, American Art Association, April 21-23, 1915, lot 174 (wrongly identified as "Miss Theophila Palmer");
There purchased for $6,100 by R. C. and N. M. Vose;
David Z. Norton, Cleveland;
Thence by descent to his grandaughter, Mary Caroline Macnaughton.

Agnew's Picture Stockbook no. 4;
D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings, New Haven 2000, Text Vol., p. 362, cat. no. 1385, Plates Vol., reproduced p. 548, fig. 1464.

Mary  Palmer was the artist's niece and the eldest daughter of John Palmer and his wife Mary Reynolds.  She married on July 21, 1792, as his 2nd wife, Murrough O'Brien, 5th Earl of Inchiquin, who was created Marquess of Thomond on December 29, 1800.  Mary Palmer was Reynold's heir; she died without issue on September 6, 1820 at Baylis, Bucks., and was buried at Taplow Court.  Her brother John inherited much of her property, however her sales at Christie's (May 16-26, 1821) included a large number of works by her uncle.  Mary's younger sister, Theophila, was also painted by Reynolds.  The two were often at Reynolds' house and were acquainted with Fanny Burney (daughter of Dr. Charles Burney whose portrait was also painted by Reynolds) who wrote that "The Miss Palmers added to the grace of his table and of his evening circles by the pleasingness of their manners and the beauty of their persons," (F. Burney, Memoirs of Dr. Burney, 1832 vol. I, pp. 332-3).