Mason Chamberlin, R.A.

Possibly Sir Coles Child (1862–1929), 1st Baronet, Bromley Palace, Kent;

Sir Coles John Child (1906–1971), 2nd Baronet;

By whom bequeathed to his sister, Deirdre Kathleen Woodall (née Child) (b. 1934);

By whom gifted to the present owner.

Mason Chamberlin, a London painter and founding member of the Royal Academy, was a pupil of Francis Hayman (1708–1776) and was later described by Waterhouse as producing 'excellent likenesses and full of character'.¹ A brief survey of his works would suggest that his portraits of children are amongst the highlights of his surviving œuvre, the best of which is likely to be his portrait of Bertie Greatheed.²

The same blue lace costume and a similar background, as found in this particular example, was used for a three-quarter-length portrait of an unknown girl sold in these rooms in 2011.³

¹ E. Waterhouse, The Dictionary of British 18th Century Painters in oils and crayons, Woodbridge 1981, p. 78.

² Waterhouse 1981, p. 76, reproduced.

³ Sotheby's, London, 14 April 2011, lot 251, for £16,250.