After Edward Francis Cunningham

Probably acquired by Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1709-1786), of the second creation;
thence by descent to the present owner

Lady T. Lewis, Lives of the Friends and Contemporaries of Lord Chancellor Clarendon, London 1852, Vol. III, no. 115, pp. 430-431;
A. Hildebrand, Das Bildnis Friedrichs des Grossen, Berlin 1940, pp. 112-114, 121-122, 123-124, pls. 31, 32, 45, 46;
E. von Campe, Die Graphishen Porträts Friedrichs des Grossen, Munich 1958, pp. 14, 42, cat no. 128, figs. XXII and 167;
R. Gibson, Catalogue of Portraits in the Collection of the Earl of Clarendon, Wallop 1977, no. 68, pp. 62-63

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition, with no apparent damage or loss of paint. There is some minor bitumen separation in the upper left, and a small number of minor surface marks overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a small amount of minor scattered retouching, and a very opaque and dirty varnish overall. FRAME Held in a gilded wooden 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, or Ludo Shaw Stewart on +44 (0)207 293 5816, or at ludovic.shawstewart@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."

The present portrait relates to an untraced painting by Edward Francis Cunningham, painted circa 1785, which is only known from an engraving by Cunego of 1787. Cunningham trained in Italy and travelled also to Prussia and St. Petersburg. By 1784 he was court painter in Berlin. This painting is thought to have been acquired by the family posthumously, in recognition of the 1st Earl's supposed creation as a Count of Prussia, and the granting of a licence to him to bear the Prussian Eagle in his coat-of-arms in 1782. 

Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon was ambassador to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony, from 1738-1742, and was much involved in the peace negotiations between the Elector and Frederick the Great. The latter appparently had great admiration for him.