Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A.

Possibly Mrs. Frank Terrell;
Possibly sale, Foster's, 22 January 1896, lot 120, to Colnaghi;
Possibly with Gallery Sedelmeyer, Paris, 1896;
Marquis de Ganay (1833-1903), by 1899;
Thence by inheritance to the Marquise de Ganay (1838-1921);
Her deceased sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, 8 May 1922, lot 61, for 70,000 francs to M. Stettiner;
Jacques Leon Stern, New York;
His deceased sale, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, 3 November 1950, lot 54;
There purchased by E. Alvarez.

Possibly London, Royal Academy, 1782, no. 125;
Possibly London, Royal Academy, 1893, no. 34.

Possibly, Sedelmeyer Gallery, The Third Hundred of Paintings by Old Masters, Paris 1896, p. 120, cat. no. 93, reproduced;
A. Graves, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, London 1899,  vol. III, pp. 963-964;
D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings, New Haven 2000, vol. I, p. 441, under cat. no. 1739.

There is an old glue relining. Painting is under a dirty and discolored old varnish. Overall the condition of this portrait is very good. In some of the dark background areas (such as the edge of the window to the right of his head and to the left of the background architecture, and the area at far middle left) there is bituminous cracking which is common in paintings by Reynolds. With careful restoration, these areas could be made to look much better and to be less distracting to the overall image. There is also a noticeable craquelure pattern in other areas, mostly in the white pigments. Examination under UV light reveals some retouches in the upper background curtain, in background lower right, and some inpainting of the above mentioned bitumen cracks. The main figure overall looks very good. This painting has not been attended to in a very long time and with careful and sensitive restoration its appearance could be greatly improved and it should be a very impressive portrait. Offered in a carved and gilt wood frame.
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.

The sitter was born at Carlisle in 1712 and was educated at Queen’s College Oxford.  He was appointed Chaplain in Ordinary to George II in 1749, a post he retained under George III.  He was appointed a canon of Westminster in 1754, and became Dean of Westminster and Chancellor of the Order of the Bath in 1768.  In 1774 he was consecrated as Bishop of Rochester. 

There are two other versions of this portrait by Reynolds, one in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham and the other formerly in the collection of Irving M. Scott, San Francisco (sold in these Rooms, 17 June 1982, lot 66).