Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.

Commissioned from the artist;
by descent from the sitter to Herbert Palmer, who sold the painting to Scott & Fowles, New York;
bought by Mrs Jeremiah Maguire, New York

London, Royal Academy, 1879, no. 3;
London, Royal Academy, 1912, no. 98

Lord R. Sutherland Gower, Sir Thomas Lawrence, London 1900, p. 153;
Sir W. Armstrong, Lawrence, London 1913, p. 156;
K. Garlick, 'A Catalogue of the Paintings, Drawings, and Pastels of Sir Thomas Lawrence', Walpole Society, Vol XXXIX, Glasgow 1964, p. 157

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. There is discoloured infilling to craquelure in the flesh tones of the lower chest, and in the costume, through the left shoulder and chest area of the dress. These retouchings appear to be largely excessive. There is also discolored visible old retouching in the hands, and to two very small areas in the face, which consists of one small white speck to the left of the sitter's nose, and two a very small area of infilling to craquelure in the forehead, which again shows up white. there has been some slight abrasion to the lower section of the picture but the pigments of the face, background drape and the sly on the left all appear to be in very good condition. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the retouching mentioned above, and reveals further minor retouchings in the background detail, in the lower left corner and centre right. There is also a small number of very minor retouchings in the hair and in the background, upper centre, and upper left. There is the partial remains of an old discoloured varnish in the background. FRAME Held in a British Rococo carved and gilded wood 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 sitter was the daughter of John Belli, Private Secretary to Warren Hastings when Governor-General of India, and his wife Elizabeth Stuart Cockerell. In November 1810 she married the merchant banker John Horsley Palmer of Hurlingham, Fulham, who later became one of the Bank of England's most influential directors. The prominence of the sittter's ring suggest that the painting was probably commissioned as a wedding gift to commemorate their marriage. The couple had six children, before the Elizabeth's untimely death in 1839.