Lot 160
160
JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1742/43-1811)
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JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1742/43-1811)

Details
JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1742/43-1811)
A preparatory sketch of Mrs Drake of Bedford Square, in décolleté pale blue dress, wearing a chain with a pendant, her upswept curled hair dress with a white plume and cap
pencil and watercolour on card
oval, 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.) high, silver-gilt frame with pierced diamond-set surround, the gold reverse engraved, 'Mrs Drake Bedford Square By John Smart'
Provenance
Lilian Mary Dyer, née Bose (1871-1955), a great-granddaughter of the artist; Christie's, London, 26 November 1937, lot 26 (part lot, 20 gns. to Hand).
Christie's, London, 16 November 1976, lot 14.
Bruton Knowles, Gloucestershire, 8 December 1994, lot 57.
Literature
D. Foskett, John Smart, the Man and his Miniatures, London, 1964, p. 87.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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Monica Turcich
Monica Turcich

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Lot Essay

The finished miniature, signed with initials and dated 1782, depicts Mrs Drake in an ermine-bordered blue surcoat and gold-figured white dress with frilled border (see Christie's, London, 23 October 1989, lot 124, and Christie's, London, 20 March 1990, lot 120).

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