George Romney

by descent from the sitter to his sister, Henrietta Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, Countess Granville (1785-1862);
thence by descent to the present owner

to be included in the forthcoming catalogue raissoné of George Romney by Alex Kidson

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting is in excellent condition ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals some small areas of minor retouching, predominantly to the base pigment in the background. FRAME Held in a carved and gilded wooden frame.
"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 6^th Duke of Devonshire was the only son of William Cavendish, 5^th Duke of Devonshire and his wife Georgina (1757-1806), eldest daughter of John Spencer, 1^st Earl Spencer. Born in Paris on 21^st May 1790, he and his two sisters grew up at Chatsworth amidst the curious menage à trois of his parents and Lady Elizabeth Foster. He subsequently attended Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating BA in 1811.

This charming and spontaneous study, clearly painted by Romney in an informal and intimate moment, captures the infant features of one of the greatest art collectors in British history. A renowned connoisseur and patron, the 6^th Duke eschewed much of the political activity that had characterised the lives of his forbears, travelling on the continent extensively throughout his life and undertaking the redevelopment and improvement of not only Chatsworth but Hardwick Hall, Devonshire House and Lismore Castle, amongst other family seats.

At the age of twenty, following his father's death in 1811, William inherited 9 enormous houses, including those already mentioned. He then purchased Morton Court and Sutton Court, both adjacent to Chiswick, demolishing both houses to increase his garden and park there. In 1812 he acquired the entire library of Thomas Dampier, Bishop of Ely, and bought extensively at the sale of the Duke of Roxburgh's library, orchestrating the remodelling of the library at Chatsworth to house his purchases in 1815. With the help of Joseph Paxton and Sir Jeffrey Wyattville he refashioned the house and grounds, re-orientating the building with a new entrance on the west side and a vast north wing terminating in the lofty Belvedere Tower, which housed the remodelled library and the Great Dining Room, as well as a sculpture gallery, vestibule, orangery and theatre. As well as making improvements to the park at Chatsworth, which had not been much altered since the 4^th Duke had commissioned Capability Brown to install sweeping parkland in the 1750s, Paxton designed the Great Conservatory (300ft long by 145ft wide by 60ft high) which was seen by Victoria and Albert during their visit in 1843 and served as a model for the Crystal Palace in 1851.

In 1826 he is said to have spent £26,000 on his entourage during a state visit to St. Petersburg for the coronation of Nicholas I, receiving the orders of St. Andrew and St. Alexander Nevsky from the Tsar in recognition of his munificence. During his numerous trips to the continent he acquired vast numbers of paintings, sculpture and antiques, many of which still fill Chatsworth today. In 1823 for example he spent the whole first half of the year in Italy buying sculpture by Canova, Tadolini, Bonelli amoung others, as well as the Discobolos by Kessels (National Gallery of Scotland) whilst staying with his stepmother and Madame Mère in Rome. 

Despite being one of the most eligible young men in the country the 6^th Duke, or Hart as he was known to his family, never married, though he maintained a 10 year secret relationship with Elizabeth Warwick from 1827, and is referred to posthumously as the Bachelor Duke, 'Enormously rich and equally charming, he must have been the despair of many an ambitious mother of hopeful daughters'[1], and following the death of his beloved niece, the Countess of Burlington, lived an increasingly lonely life.

[1] The Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth the House, 2002, p. 25