Lot Essay
Sir George Yonge, Bt., of Culleton, Devon, was M.P. for Honiton 1754-96, Lord of the Admiralty 1766-70, and Governor of the Cape of Good Hope 1799-1801. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Bouchier Cleeve of Foots Cray, in 1765, but had no issue.
When offered for sale in 1979, the present picture was believed to be a fully autograph work by Sir Joshua, and was listed as having been the picture sold in Lady Yonge's sale of 1833. However, although Waterhouse recorded the picture (op. cit), his notes include the remark 'or a copy?'. His notes also record a picture of this subject which was sold in Paris, 5-8 May 1873 from the collection of the Marquis de la Rochebousseau which, judging from the engraving in the Gazette des Beaux Arts, may have been a, now lost, prime version.
We are grateful to Dr. David Mannings for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
When offered for sale in 1979, the present picture was believed to be a fully autograph work by Sir Joshua, and was listed as having been the picture sold in Lady Yonge's sale of 1833. However, although Waterhouse recorded the picture (op. cit), his notes include the remark 'or a copy?'. His notes also record a picture of this subject which was sold in Paris, 5-8 May 1873 from the collection of the Marquis de la Rochebousseau which, judging from the engraving in the Gazette des Beaux Arts, may have been a, now lost, prime version.
We are grateful to Dr. David Mannings for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.