John Trotter

C.I. Conway, by descent to;
Mrs. Joan Conway, Turville Court, recorded as by 'Zoffany';
Her sale, Sotheby's London, 22nd March 2000, lot 84, (bt. by the present owner for £98,000)

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor retouching and infilling to craquelure, particularly in the background, upper left, and to the sitters britches and waistcoat. FRAME: Held in a British Regency gilded frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com.
"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."

John Trotter was a successful Irish born portrait painter who studied at the Dublin Society's Schools from circa 1756 'where his genius was in admiration and he made drawings, unrivalled by any master before or since' (see Hibernian Journal, 1800). He subsequently studied in Rome for sixteen years between c.1759 and 1773, and on his return married Mary Anne Hunter, the daughter of the pre-eminent Dublin portraitist Robert Hunter, in 1774.  

Trotter had a successful practice as a portrait painter in Dublin, first in Stafford Street and then in Jervis Street and Britain Street, often working in partnership with his wife, Mary Anne, who was also an artist. The present portrait can be compared with those of John Rawdon-Hastings and his wife Lady Anne Rawdon, sold at in these rooms on 10^th July 1985.

The 18^th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot was based in Ireland from 1763 until 1767, and subsequently in North America from 1767 to 1776 and England from 1776 until 1781. It has been suggested, however, that the sitter might well be home on leave, or retired, and is here portrayed alongside a memorial to his wife 'in memoriam'.