Lot Essay
This remarkable miniature was illustrated in The Conniosseur op. cit. The owner, Miss A. Clayton-East is described as a descendant of Edward East. Interestingly the article goes on to say The miniature of East.... is presumably to be dated in the 1650's and seems to be a portrait of a man of about forty years of age; if my impression of the sitter's age and the period of the dress is correct this goes a long way to prove the accuracy of the accepted date of his birth and makes any query as to the possiblility of there being two Edward Easts unnecessary