Ranelagh Barrett

Commissioned by George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orfort, Houghton Hall, Norfolk
Thence by descent (and sold: Christie's, London, December 8, 1994, lot 136, illustrated)
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, June 7, 2001, lot 490, illustrated

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been fairly recently lined using glue as an adhesive and the surface is well restrained and is stable. The paint layer has been quite recently cleaned, retouched and varnished. There are a few small scuffs to the varnish which may be easily removed yet this picture could also be hung in its current condition. Under ultraviolet light there are some isolated retouches clearly visible here and there but the notable retouches are in the hind quarters of the largest hound on the left side, where a tear which runs through its left side has been retouched. In the rear thigh of the white hound in the center there is a vertical scratch and in his waste there is also a small round retouch. In the other hounds hardly any restorations have been applied. There are a few cosmetic retouches addressing small losses and spots visible in a few other areas. Essentially however, this picture is in well above average condition, particularly for its scale and period. Despite slight thinness to the activity on the left side in the hill side, the picture is in very good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This painting after the original version of the same title by John Wootton, is representative of a number of dog portraits and hunting scenes that Wootton painted for Sir Robert Walpole (172-42), first Earl of Oxford, generally regarded as the first British Prime Minister. Although the original version by Wootton has remained untraced since its sale to Catherine the Great of Russia in 1779, several of Wootton's paintings known to have been in Walpole's collection by 1736 survive. Wootton's primary version of the present work hung in the Hunting Hall of Walpole's Houghton Hall, Norfolk and this painting is recorded in the Breakfast Room in the 1792 inventory.

A mezzotint engraving of Wootton's original version was published by Richard Earlom in 1780. The inscription in the engraving claims that Wootton's picture hung in the Hunting Hall at Houghton (A. Meyer, John Wootton 1628-1764, London, 1984, pp. 80-1, No. 61).