George Romney

Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe (c.1781-1851), Hoddam Castle, Dumfriesshire;
His sale, London, Christie's, 28 June 1875, lot 138 (as 'Sir Joshua Reynolds', for 68 gns., to Lord Overstone);
Samuel Jones-Loyd, 1st Baron Overstone (1796-1883);
By descent to his daughter, Harriet Sarah Jones-Loyd (d.1920), who married Robert Lindsay, later Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage (1832-1901), in 1858 (the picture was recorded in the Wantage Collection at Lockinge in 1905);
Mrs Guy Knight;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 24 June 1977, lot 74 (as 'Sir Joshua Reynolds', for £1,500 to Marchant);
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 24 November 1978, lot 58 (for £1,400); 
Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Gentleman"), London, Christie's, 1 March 1991, lot 14 (as 'Portrait of a Lady, traditionally identified as Mrs Montgomerie, by George Romney').

A. Graves and W.V. Cronin, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA, London 1899, Vol. II, p. 661 (as 'Sir Joshua Reynolds');
Possibly H. Ward and W. Roberts, Romney, London 1904, p. 49;
H. S. Wantage, The Wantage Collection of Pictures, 1905, no. 187;
To be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of George Romney's paintings by Alex Kidson.

The catalogue illustration is representative. The canvas has an old relining and paint surface has been slightly flattened in the flesh tones as a result. Otherwise the paint surface appears to be in very good overall condition with no apparent damage or loss of paint visible to the naked eye. There is however minor scattered discoloured retouching visible both under and above the sitter's left eye and to her hairline as can be seen in the catalogue illustration. Otherwise there is some scattered surface dirt and a discoloured varnish in keeping with the picture's age. Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the presence of the aforementioned retouching and reveals some further minor retouches to the nose and the chin. Elsewhere there are some minor flecks of retouching to the sitter's lace collar, very minor flecks of retouching to the background centre left, and some older minor strengthening to the hair and the waistband. Overall the painting appears to be in good condition however full inspection is hindered by the milky varnish. Offered in a gilt wood and plaster frame with minor 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."

Previously known as a portrait of "Mrs. Montgomerie", it is possible that this picture is in fact the portrait of Frances Twysden, second wife of Archibald Montgomerie, 11th Earl of Eglinton (1726-1796), recorded by Ward and Roberts in their 1904 catalogue raisonné (see Literature). Frances sat to Romney on nine occasions between April and July 1784, however no record of the portrait is known and it had been assumed that it was destroyed in a fire at Eglinton Castle in the early 19th century.

Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, the earliest recorded owner of this picture, was the great grandson of the 9th Earl of Eglinton, through his mother Elenaora, who was first cousin of the children of Frances, Countess of Eglinton, and her husband, the 11th Earl. Thirty-seven years younger than her husband, and having had two daughters by him, Frances divorced Eglinton in 1788 and eloped with Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton (1756-1799), with whom she had an eight-year liaison and by whom she may have had two further children. The relationship did not last however, and in 1794 she married her second husband, Francis Moore (1767-1854), Deputy Secretary at War and the brother of Sir John Moore of Corunna. The couple had two children, Lt. General Sir William George KCB (1795-1862), and another son John. It is possible, given the circumstances in which her first marriage ended, that this picture may have descended in the family of her first husband's sister, to her grandson Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe at Hoddam Castle, where the sitter may well have been disparagingly referred to as "Mrs Montgomerie" by disgruntled relatives.

We are grateful to Alex Kidson for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.