Lot Essay
This study shows the influence of Gaspard Poussin.
In his 1964 article John Hayes discusses the provenance of the five Holker Hall drawings (lots 9-12 plus his 1970 no.635) and suggests that they might have been taken there from Chatsworth by Cavendish, the seventh Duke of Devonshire after the big fire at Holker in 1871. He further suggests that the drawings might have been given by Gainsborough to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, at the time she was sitting to him for her two portraits in the mid 1780s. The Colnaghi label is a difficulty in this case, as are the provenances suggested by the inscriptions on the backs of lots 10 and 12 and in his 1970 book Hayes seems to have dropped this suggestion
In his 1964 article John Hayes discusses the provenance of the five Holker Hall drawings (lots 9-12 plus his 1970 no.635) and suggests that they might have been taken there from Chatsworth by Cavendish, the seventh Duke of Devonshire after the big fire at Holker in 1871. He further suggests that the drawings might have been given by Gainsborough to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, at the time she was sitting to him for her two portraits in the mid 1780s. The Colnaghi label is a difficulty in this case, as are the provenances suggested by the inscriptions on the backs of lots 10 and 12 and in his 1970 book Hayes seems to have dropped this suggestion