Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.

Henry Wilkinson of White Webbs Park, Enfield;
His deceased sale, London, Christie's, 21 April 1888, lot 128;
With Sedelmeyer Gallery, Paris, 1913;
Thatcher M. Adams, New York;
By whose Estate sold, New York, American Art Association, 15 January 1920, lot 152, for $3,100;
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Aldred, Lattingtown, Long Island;
Their sale, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries, 6-7 December 1940, lot 19, for $2,100, to W.W. Seeman, Agent;
Carll Tucker, New York, 1951.

Revd. G.H. Hodson and E. Ford, A History of Enfield, p. 85;
Sedelmeyer Gallery, Paris, Illustrated Catalogue of the Twelfth Series of 100 Paintings by Old Masters, Paris 1913, p. 130, cat. no. 83, reproduced;
Connoisseur, June 1930, reproduced facing p. 126;
K. Garlick, "A Catalogue of the Paintings, Drawings and Pastels of Sir Thomas Lawrence," in The Walpole Society, vol. XXXIX, 1964, p. 22;
K. Galrick, Sir Thomas Lawrence, a complete catalogue of the oil paintings, Oxford 1989, p. 140, reproduced.

The canvas has a glue relining which is firm and stable. Overall the paint surface has been very well retained. The flesh tones of the boy's face and his hair are particularly nicely preserved. There is a craquelure pattern throughout mostly noticeable, but not too distracting, in the darks of his costume and background. An area in background just to lower right of boy's legs has lost some definition; this could be due to unevenness in the varnish layer. Under UV light: a few very small retouches on boy's costume, some retouches in foliage at left side, on left ear of dog and a few scattered in background lower right. In a carved and gilt wood frame with some losses at edges.
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 identity of the sitter in this charming portrait by Lawrence is uncertain. Hodson and Ford (see Literature) list the painting as a “Son of Colonel Hill.”  The sitter was subsequently identified as a son of the Rt. Hon. Charles Arbuthnot.  Garlick (see Literature, 1989) points out that it would have to be George, the elder son of Arbuthnot’s first marriage who was born in circa 1801.  However, this would place the date of the portrait at around 1806-07 and it would appear to him, based on seeing only a photograph of the picture, to belong to an earlier date.