JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1741-1811)

Details

JOHN SMART (BRITISH, 1741-1811)
A preparatory sketch of Mrs Drake of Bedford Square, in décolleté pale blue dress, wearing a chain with a pendant, her upswept curled hair dressed with a white plume and cap
Pencil and watercolour on card

Oval, 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.
Christie's, London, 10 June 2010, lot 160.

Literature

D. Foskett, John Smart, The Man and his Miniatures, London, 1964, p. 87.

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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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