Allan Ramsay 1713-1784

Half length, wearing a slate coloured coat and a blue waistcoat

On the sitter's death without issue, the portrait probably passed to his friend George, Lord Grey, later Earl of Stamford;
Thence by descent to his great grandson George, 7th Earl of Stamford;
Katherine Cocks, Countess of Stamford, his widow;
Catherine Payne, her great niece, who married Sir Henry Foley Lambert 7th Bt. (1816-1914);
Sir John Foley Grey Bt (1893-1938), Enville Hall, his sale, Christie's, 15th June 1928, lot 83,. bt. Tooth;
Cornelius J. Kelly 1933:
Wildenstein, New York:
Mrs Frances Kelly Wood, New York, by 1968:
Anon. Sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 22nd January 1976, lot 57

Alastair Smart, Allan Ramsay, a Complete Catalogue of his Paintings, 1999, p. 154, no. 346, fig. 272

The canvas has been lined. There is a fine weave of craquelure to the paint surface which is characteristic for a painting of this age. There is evidence of some discoloured repaint to part of the stretcher bar marks in the lower left hand corner. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals the aforementioned retouching, as well as a couple of spots of retouching in the background. There is a diagonal restored damage to the upper left of the sitter's head. This would only appear to be visible in raking light. Held in a gilt composite frame with some losses.
"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."

The sitter was the posthumous son and heir of Sir Henry Mainwaring of Over Peover, Cheshire, by Diana, daughter of William Blackett of Newby, Yorkshire. He succeeded his uncle on 7 November 1726, at birth, as 4th Baronet. He matriculated at Oxford and served as Sheriff of Cheshire in 1772-3. He died unmarried on 6th April 1797 aged 70, when the Baronetcy became extinct.

Mainwaring travelled to Italy in 1760 with his friend George Grey, Lord Grey, later 5th Earl of Stamford.  They reached Rome from Naples on 9th February 1760 and sat for a fine double portrait by Nathaniel Dance now at Dunham Massey, the Stamford seat (sold in these rooms on 30th June 2005).  Mainwaring also commissioned from Dance Aeneas and Venus,  as well as two marble chimneypieces from Gerorge Dance which were executed in Florence.  During the summer of 1760 they were both in Florence where Grey commissioned from Thomas Patch two paintings which also include Mainwaring.