George Romney

By descent to Major-General R. L. Dashwood, by 1900;
With Arthur J. Sulley and Co., London, 1907;
With Agnew's, London, 1909;
Romer Williams, 1911;
Richard Pillsbury Gale, Minneapolis, by 1948;
With Newhouse Galleries, New York;
Myron Cowen;
Sale, New York, Christie's, January 8, 1984, lot 61, to Agnew's;
With Agnew's, London;
Private collection, Great Britian;
With Agnew's, London, from whom purchased by the deceased in 2004.

London, Grafton Gallery, Spring 1900, no. 108 (as a portrait of Charles Vere Dashwood, lent by Major-General R.L. Dashwood);
London, Agnew's, The Heroic Age, 1984, no. 14, (as a portrait of James Dashwood).

H. Ward and W. Roberts, Romney Catalogue Raisonné, London, vol. II, London 1905, p. 41 (as a portrait of Charles Vere Dashwood);
To be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the works of George Romney being prepared by Alex Kidson.

Relined. painting is presentable in its present state. paint surface overall has been quite well retained. the flesh tones of his face, his hair and shirt are very well preserved; the lower portion of his blue jacket has been slightly pressed in the relining and the dark blue pigments have lost some definition in this area. overall, figure reads very well and presents a handsome image. ultraviolet light reveals only some small inpaints of craquelure in face. In an ornately carved and gilt wood frame with a few nicks.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Mr. Dashwood had five appointments with Romney between February 10th and 22nd in 1787, and paid for the portrait in full that same month.  The identity of the sitter has been problematic.  Its appearance at the Grafton Galleries in 1900 (see Exhibited) with Romney's Portrait of Mrs. Anne Dashwood,¹ led Ward and Roberts to surmise that the sitter of this portrait was her son, Charles Vere Dashwood (1745-1821).  However, this sitter is considerably younger than 43, which would have been Charles Vere Dashwood's age in 1787.  By the time the portrait was with Sulley and Co. in 1907, the sitter had been re-identified as James Dashwood of Parkhust, Surrey (circa 1758-1840), who would have been in his late twenties at the date of the portrait. He was the fourth son of Robert Dashwood of Vellow Wood, Somerset and his wife, Mary, née Sweeting.  However, a connection with Mrs. Anne Dashwood cannot be secured, which makes their descent together difficult to explain.  All that is certain, is that the Mr. Dashwood who sat in 1787 used the Harley Street address of a Captain Dashwood, who had sittings with Romney in 1782 and 1783, which suggests a relationship (perhaps a brother?) to him.

1.  See Ward and Roberts under Literature, p. 41; Mrs. Anne Dashwood was exhibited as no. 107 in the Grafton Galleries exhibition, also lent by Major-General R.L. Dashwood.