Elizabeth Ford, facing right in pearl-bordered white silk dress with red fastenings, fur-bordered blue silk surcoat, pearl choker, pearls in her upswept brown hair

Details

JOHN SMART (1742/43-1811)
Elizabeth Ford, facing right in pearl-bordered white silk dress with red fastenings, fur-bordered blue silk surcoat, pearl choker, pearls in her upswept brown hair
signed with initials and dated 'J.S. 1765' (lower right)
oval, 1 5/16 in. (34 mm.) high, silver-gilt frame with glazed reverse

Provenance

Lieut. John Townsend, R.N., in 1862.
Mrs Townsend, in 1905.
R. W. M. Walker; (+) Christie's, London, 17 July 1945, lot 143 (part lot, to H. E. Backer).

Exhibited

London, South Kensington Museum, Special Exhibition of Works of Art, 1862, no. 2696 (lent by Lieut. John Townsend, R.N.).

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.

Lot Essay

Elizabeth Aikenhead married Gilbert Ford, the Attorney-General of Jamaica and later General Samuel Townsend, aide-de-camp to George III. A miniature of Gilbert Ford by John Smart, also dated 1765, was sold Christie's, London, 24 May 2000, lot 191.

More from IMPORTANT PORTRAIT MINIATURES, GOLD BOXES & OBJECTS OF VERTU

View All