Thomas Beach, R.A.

Commissioned by William Craven, 6th Baron Craven  (1738-1791);
By descent in the Craven family to Cornelia, Countess of Craven, wife of William, 4th Earl of Craven (1868-1921);
Mrs J. Menajed, by 1973;
From whom purchased by a private collector, New York;
By whom anonymously sold ('Property of a Private Collector, New York'), New York, Sotheby's, 17 January 1985, lot 129;
With Thomas Agnew & Sons, London;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 18 April 1996, lot 13, for £15,000.

The picture is in good condition, with no apparent extant damage or loss of paint. The colours are bolder than the catalogue illustration suggests. The canvas has been lined and consists of two pieces joined vertically in the middle. This join is faintly visible under close inspection. There are traces of old bird faeces (mostly ribbed off0 in the middle of the picture, running through the face of the little girl with the cherries, and craquelure consistent with the pictures age throughout. There is also a thick, dirty varnish overall. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor spots of retouching and infilling to craquelure in the flesh tones and the sky. There is minor retouching to the canvas join and scattered infilling to craquelure overall. The picture is held in a carved and gilded Carlo Maratta frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482.
"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 portrait shows the children of William Craven, 6th Baron Craven, of Benham Park, Berkshire, and his wife, the notorious author, playwright and traveller Lady Elizabeth Berkeley (1750-1828), later styled Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach, at the back of the group, wearing a black bonnet, stands the eldest daughter, Elizabeth (1768-1799), holding one of her younger brothers. On the far left, wearing a green jacket and yellow waistcoat and trousers, is William (1770-1825), later Major-General, 7th Baron and 1st Earl of Craven, to the left of whom stand his three younger sisters, Maria, Georgina and Arabella, together with their nurse, who holds the other brother, either Harry or Keppel.

Studies for the figures of the three girls and figure group on the right, the first three of which ware signed and dated 1776, were sold in the by direction of the administrators of the estate of the 7th Earl of Craven, at Phillips, 11 December 1984, lots 50 & 52-4. The study for the figure group on the right was exhibited at Colnaghi's, in The British Face; A View of Portraiture 1625-1850, 1986, no. 41, and was later sold at Christie's, South Kensington, 31 May 2009, lot 98.