Francis Cotes, R.A.

The pastel has remained in good condition in this work. The medium has not been rubbed and appears fresh. There is scattered spidery mould in evidence throughout the sheet – although this can only be seen on close inspection. The sheet has been laid down to a back-board. For further information on this work please contact Mark Griffith-Jones on 0207 293 5083 or mark.griffithjones@sothebys.com
"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."

This is a rare example of Cotes portraying a young child. Although the identity of the boy has not been fully established, it has been suggested that he may be Peter Benet Legh. Born in 1742, he was the son of Peter Legh (1706-1796) and Martha Benet (1708-1787) of Lyme Park, Cheshire and cousin of the Thomas Peter Legh (1753–1797), Member of Parliament for Newton. Although the precise year of the sitter’s death is unknown he is said to have died young. It is conceivable that Cotes was commissioned to create this pastel, posthumously, using a miniature, recorded in the collection at Lyme Park and described by Lady Newton in 1917 as ‘a very badly painted miniature of a beautiful boy with golden hair and dark eyes,’¹ as a basis from which to work. We are very grateful to Neil Jeffares for his assistance in cataloguing this work.

1. Lady Newton, The House of Lyme: From Its Foundation to the End of the Eighteenth Century, New York 1917, p. 394

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