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

T. Grissell, Esq., Kensington, by 1864 and until at least 1867;

Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 25 November 1998, lot 42 (as "Portrait of a gentleman, said to be David Garrick, and his wife and child," by Chamberlin);

Where acquired.

Stratford-on-Avon, Town Hall, Celebration of the Tercentenary birthday of William Shakespeare, April 23, 1864, no. 211 (as "Portrait of David Garrick and his wife and child," by Sir Joshua Reynolds)

London, South Kensington Museum, National Portrait Exhibition, 2 May - 31 August 1867, no. 551 (as "Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Garrick and child," by Reynolds)

Catalogue of Pictures and Drawings exhibited on the Town Hall, Stratford-on-Avon, at the Celebration of the Tercentenary birthday of William Shakespeare, London 1964, p. 49, no. 211 (as "Portrait of David Garrick and his wife and child," by Reynolds);

A. Graves, F.S.A. and W.V. Cronin, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., London 1899, vol. I, p. 352 (as not by Reynolds).

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.