MASON CHAMBERLIN, R.A. | PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY: THE MAN HOLDING A MANUSCRIPT AND SEATED BEHIND HIS WIFE, WHO WEARS AN ERMINE COAT AND HOLDS HER SLEEPING INFANT

This family portrait has an interesting attribution history: within a century of its creation, it was believed to be a portrait of famed Shakespearean actor David Garrick (1717 - 1779) and his family, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It was exhibited as such at both the tercentenary celebration of Shakespeare's birthday and the National Portrait Exhibition. In fact the male sitter cannot be Garrick, as he never had children, and his appearance is known through many other portraits. Instead the portrait depicts an anonymous couple with their new baby, and is much more consistent with the style of Mason Chamberlin, founding member of the Royal Academy.