John Smart

wearing a flounced white dress and a lilac-coloured sash, silver-gilt frame, set with cultured pearls

H.A. Baker, his sale in these Rooms, 29 October 1948, lot 93 (in a locket with a miniature of her husband);
Henry Nyburg, his sale in these Rooms, 10 November 1969, lot 135;
Anonymous sale in these Rooms, 27 June 1977, lot 105 (sold separately from her husband)

Foskett 1964, p. 67

Ivory ground. This miniature is in excellent condition.
"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."

Susannah Gomonde was the daughter of John Ellerker of Risbey Park, York. She married Richard Gomonde who commenced his military career as a cadet of the Madras Presidency in 1777. Appointed Lieutenant in 1782 and Captain in 1796, he retired in 1800, having been made a Major the previous year.

The Gomonde's apparently had their portraits painted twice by Smart in 1790. The present miniature of Mrs Gomonde, formerly mounted in a double locket with her husband's portrait, shows the sitter wearing a white dress tied with a lilac sash. This costume slightly differs from the other version, which depicts a dress with yellow sleeves (Zubov Collection, Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires, catalogue no. 28). The Buenos Aires portrait is contained in its original locket but is faced by a glazed hair reserve with initials SG, rather than Gomonde's portrait. When it was sold in these Rooms as part of the E. Peter Jones collection on 10 November 1957, lot 23, the previous lot was Smart's portrait of her husband, contained in its original pearl-bordered frame. Interestingly Lieutenant Gomonde is depicted in a slightly different uniform from that seen in the pair to the present miniature. Evidently the success of the first commission led to a second. Rather than simply duplicate what he had done previously, Smart chose to execute two new portraits, which nonetheless related to the initial pair.