Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A.

Commissioned from the artist by the sitter for 35 Guineas;
Mrs. George Bellamy;
Sir Martin Archer Shee;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 26 May 1851, lot 173, to Norton;
Mrs. B. Gibbons;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 5 May 1883, lot 24, for 86 Guineas to Agnew's (misidentified as George Hanger, William's younger brother);
William Agnew, M.P.;
With Agnew's, London;
From whom acquired by Major Frank Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, 5 December 1884;
Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Lady"), London, Christie's, 20 November 1987, lot 96.

London, Grosvenor Gallery, 1883, no. 148;
London, Royal Academy, Winter Exhibition, 1906, no. 15.

A. Graves and W.V. Cronin, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., London 1899, vol. II, p. 429;
Sir W. Armstrong, Sir Joshua Reynolds, London 1900, p. 210;
G.E.C., The Complete Peerage..., London 1913, vol. III, p. 369, note (b);
M. Cormack, "The Ledgers of Sir Joshua Reynolds," Walpole Society, XLII, 1970, p. 124;
D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A Complete Catalogue of the Paintings, New Haven 2000, Text vol., p. 240, cat. no. 829, Plates vol., p. 419, reproduced fig. 1025.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Many of Reynold's portraits have suffered due to his unconventional techniques, and in this painting, the glazes have weakened. Under ultraviolet light, one can see that numerous tiny retouches have been applied in the face to diminish abrasion and paint loss. There are other restorations in the hair, and retouches in the background and clothing to a lesser degree. This is an attractive portrait despite its uneven condition, and re-examining the retouches would be beneficial.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

William Hanger was the second son of Gabriel Hanger, 1st Baron Coleraine, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Bond of Clowbury, Hereford.  He entered the Royal Horse Guards in 1762 as a cornet, and was subsequently made a Lieutenant in October 1764, and a Captain in November 1771.  He retired from the army in 1776.  William succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Coleraine with the death of his brother, John, in 1794.  He died in 1814, unmarried, when the title passed to his younger brother George Hanger (1751-1824).