Lot 50
George Romney (1734-1802) After Samuel Shelley (1750-1808)
Lot 50 Details
George Romney (1734-1802) After Samuel Shelley (1750-1808), British
PORTRAIT OF MARIA ARCHER, 3RD DAUGHTER AND ONE OF THE CHILDREN OF ANDREW LORD ARCHER OF CUMBERSLADE
Oil on canvas in a feigned oval; titled to an old handwritten label and further inscribed: “married Henry Howard Esq., the 9th Nov. 1788 died in childbed Nove. 26th 1789 and with her died her infant child” to the verso, titled to gallery label verso
Oval sight 25.25" x 20" — 68.6 x 58.4 cm.
Estimate $3,000-$4,000
Provenance:
Thomas Agnew, London;
The Fine Art Galleries, The T. Eaton Co. Ltd., Canada;
Mr. Harry McGee, Toronto;
With the Art Gallery of Toronto, October 1st, 1935 while owned by Mr. Harry McGee; The Estate of Harrison Scheak, Toronto
Literature:
For a discussion of Romney’s portrait of Maria Archer, see Jennifer Watson’s, “George Romney in Canada”, 1985. At the time of writing Ms. Watson’s catalogue, the location of this portrait was unknown.
Exhibited:
The Art Gallery of Toronto, Toronto, “Exhibition of 18th Century Portraits”, January 1932, Cat. No. 19, lent by Mr. Harry McGee, Toronto
Note:
This work is documented in the 1904 Romney records as being executed for Mr. Howard (her husband) and paid for in full on January 1791. Romney never met Maria Archer as she died in 1789. Romney’s portrait of Maria, commissioned by her husband, was copied from a miniature painted by British artist, Samuel Shelley (1750-1808).