George Romney

By descent to Major P.R. Davies-Cooke, Owston, Doncaster, Yorkshire;
Acquired by the husband of the present owner before 1987.

H. Ward and W. Roberts, Romney, London 1904, Vol. II, p. 32.

Old glue relining is firm and stable. the paint surface is very well preserved. several small surface scratches can be seen at lower left (as visible in catalogue photograph) and there is a small scuff at middle left edge. examination under ultraviolet reveals some retouching to background areas, mostly at lower left. a few retouches to brown coat and two tiny retouches to forehead where there is also some small inpaints to craquelure. a couple of small retouches to shadowed part of hair to right of ear. In a carved and gilt wood frame with numerous nicks and losses to the gilding.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Bryan Cooke (1756-1821) was the eldest son of Anthony Cooke of Owston, near Doncaster.  He was a Lieutenant and Colonel in the Royal Horse Guards from 1775 until 1785 and later a Colonel in the Third West York Militia.  From 1811 he sat as a member of Parliament for Malton.  In 1786 he married Frances Puleston, daughter of Philip Puleston and Mary Davies, daughter and co-heiress of John Davies of Gwysaney.

Sittings for the present portrait are recorded between 7 and 14 March 1780.  Another portrait of Cooke in "uniform of the Blues" and a third portrait of "Captain Cooke" are recorded by Ward and Roberts (see Literature).  In circa 1787-91, Romney also painted a three-quarter length portrait of Mrs. Bryan Cooke which is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fletcher Fund, 1945).

We are grateftul to Alex Kidson for his assistance in cataloguing this lot and for confirming the attribution to Romney on the basis of firsthand inspection.  He will include it in his forthcoming catalogue raisonné on the works of Romney.