John Smart
A Gentleman, traditionally identified as ‘Mr. Ridley’, wearing a blue jacket, with lace shirt and white waistcoat embroidered with flowers and gold thread, 1770s
Watercolour on ivory
Oval, 45mm (1 ¾ in.) high
Philip Mould & Co.
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com Dating from the 1770s, the costume worn by this gentleman is remarkably similar to that worn by Richard Twining (cat.8) painted...
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com
Dating from the 1770s, the costume worn by this gentleman is remarkably similar to that worn by Richard Twining (cat.8) painted in 1771. Although it was Smart’s practice to sign and date every miniature, this may have been an unfinished work. Other alternatives may be that this was a secondary version or unwanted by the client. The detailed gold thread and delicate floral embroidery on the sitter’s waistcoat are typical of Smart’s painstaking attention to detail.
Provenance
Sotheby’s, London, 6 June 1996, lot 39 (as ‘Mr. Ridley’);Karin Henninger-Tavcar (as ‘Mr. Ridley’);
Private Collection, Germany.