Arthur Devis

both full length, standing, he wearing a blue coat with a white waistcoat and holding his hat and cane, she wearing a pale blue dress, her left arm resting on a stone pedestal, with landscapes beyond

By descent in the Travers family, until acquired by W. E. Hurcomb;
Knoedler, New York;
Arthur Davis, New York, by 1932;
Newhouse Gallery, New York;
Mr and Mrs Kay Kimbell, Fort Worth, Texas;
Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, until sold Sotheby's London, 12th July 1989, lot 35

New York, Knoedler, Hogarth and his Contemporaries, 1935, nos. 14 and 15;
Yale Center for British Art, Newhaven, The Conversation Piece: Arthur Devis and his Contemporaries, 1980, nos. 24 and 25

S. H. Paviere, The Devis Family of Painters, Leigh-on-Sea 1950, cat. Nos. 133 and 134, illustrated pl. 10 and 11;
Kimbell Art Museum, Catalogue of the Collection, 1972, pp. 121-2 illus.
E. G. D'Oench, Arthur Devis: Master of the Georgian Conversation Piece, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Yale University 1979, pp. 422-3, nos. 154 and 155;
E. G. D'Oench, The Conversation Piece: Arthur Devis and his Contemporaries, New Haven 1980, pp. 56-7, 88, nos. 154-5
Kimbell Art Museum, Handbook of the Collection, 1981, p. 31, illus.

"The following condition report has been provided by Hamish Dewar, an independent restorer and conservator who is not employed by Sotheby's." Structural Condition The canvases have been lined and are ensuring even and secure supports and no further structural intervention is required. Paint Surface The paint surfaces of both paintings have even varnish layers. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows many very fine lines of inpainting which have been applied to infill the craquelure pattern. These are of minimal size and have obviously been very carefully applied to reduce the visual affect of the craquelure pattern and the most significant of these very fine lines are on the sitters costumes and flesh tones. It is important to stress how these are no more than hairline infillings of craquelure. There are other small scattered retouchings on both paintings and one significant area on the "Portrait of Edward Travers". This is an area in the sky in the upper left of the composition, which presumably covers an H-shaped tear or fracture. The two parallel vertical lines are approximately 13.5 cm and 17 cm in length and the horizontal line is approximately 3 cm in length. The retouching has obviously been carefully applied. Summary The paintings are therefore in good and stable condition having been carefully treated in the past and no further work is required.
"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."

Edward Travers was the son of John Travers and his second wife Anne, daughter of Simon Thelwall of Llanbedr.  His father acted as agent for the Trevor estate and lived at Trefalyn Hall in Denbighshire, North Wales.  John Travers was succeeded as agent by his eldest son William, who bought in 1747 the property of the Bruens in Allington and moved to Trefalyn House which he partly rebuilt in 1754.  On his death in 1765 he was succeeded by his brother Edward, the sitter in this portrait.

Edward Travers was a barrister and member of Lincolns Inn.  Following his death in 1777 his widow Ursula married George Johnson of Chester.  There is a monument to Edward Travers, his wife Ursula and her second husband George Johnson in Gresford Church near Wrexham.