John Smart
A young Gentleman, wearing black coat and waistcoat, white cravat, 1773
Watercolour on ivory
Oval, 1 ½ in (38mm) high
Signed with initials and dated ‘J.S./ 1773’
Philip Mould & Co.
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com This portrait, of a young red-headed gentleman, dates from relatively early in Smart’s career, and twelve years before his move to...
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com
The bright, clear colouring in this portrait is particularly strong, the sitter’s skin tones and hair colour vivid against the black of his suit. There is no reason to doubt that the miniature is cased in its original gold bracelet clasp frame, as several other examples survive from this period similarly framed.[1]
[1] See E. Rutherford, L. Hendra & al., ‘John Smart (1741-1811): a genius magnified’, London 2014, entries from the mid 1770s
Provenance
Bought by Edward Grosvenor Paine from S. J. Phillips, London, in 1968 or in July 1971;Edward Grosvenor Paine (1911-1989) Collection, New Orleans, La., inv. No. 559;
Christie’s, London, 23 October 1979, lot 111;
Christie’s, London, 20 November 2007, lot 55;
Private Collection