A mother seated with her left hand resting on a red velvet cushion and her right hand holding the skirts of her child; in white dress with high lace collar; the child in white dress with blue sash and blue bow tie; column and sky background

Martha Bellett Browne was George Chinnery's favourite pupil and through his correspondence addressed to her between 1813 and 1821, much can be learnt about his method of painting miniatures. Bellett Browne built up a large clientele as a miniaturist in Calcutta and painted members of the D'Oyly family (see M. Archer, India and British Portraiture 1770-1825, London, 1979, p. 397, pl. 310). For a miniature of Lady d'Oyly attributed to Bellet Browne, see Sotheby's, London, 15 July 1974, part of lot 42 and for other signed miniatures by Bellett Browne, see Sotheby's, Stokesay Court, Ludlow, Shropshire, 28 September - 1 October 1994, lots 1167, 1172 and 1173.