William Hoare of Bath, R.A.

Grace, Lady Sondes, of Lees Court, Kent, née Pelham (1731-1777), the sitter’s aunt; by direct descent to George, 4^th Earl Sondes (1914-1970);
his trustee’s sale, London, Phillips, 24 November 1980, lot 131 (as Francis Cotes, Portrait of Edward and Anna Marie Astley);
with Morton Morris, London;
from whom acquired by the present owners

N. Jeffares, A Dictionary of Pastellists before 1800, on-line edition

Henry Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, Earl of Lincoln: Overall, the condition is good. There may be some minor retouching to the sitters forehead and true right cheek. Portrait of Catherine Pelham-Clinton: The overall condition is good. There is some very minor rubbing at the extreme bottom edge of the sheet. Both works are very well presented, possibly in period frames.
"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."

The present pastels can be dated to the late 1750s and they depict two of the 2^nd Duke and Duchess of Newcastle's children. Catherine, who here is considered to be aged ten or eleven, wears a simple white dress, a blue shawl and pretty lace bonnet. Henry, who is perhaps eight years old, wears 'Vandyck' costume, with a dashing ermine-lined blue coat. 

Henry was born in 1750, his elder brother, George, died in 1752 and from that date on, as his father's heir, he was styled Earl of Lincoln. In the 1770s, he served as a Member of Parliament and in 1775, he married Frances Seymour-Conway, a daughter of the 1^st Marquess of Hertford. He died in France in 1778 and his younger brother, Thomas, succeeded to the Dukedom.

Catherine was born in 1748 but except for this, no other information about her life has so far come to light. Sadly, she may have died young.

The Duke of Newcastle and his immediate family were important patrons of William Hoare of Bath and there is another version of the Earl of Lincoln by the artist in the Nottingham City Art Gallery. The present pair of portraits descended in the family of the sitters’ aunt, Grace, Lady Sondes, until they were sold at Phillips in 1980. We are grateful to Neil Jeffares for his help when cataloguing this lot.