Wednesday 9 July 2025

Lot 193

Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA, British 1769-1830-  Portrait sketch of two young boys embracing,...

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Lot 193

Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA, 
British 1769-1830- 
Portrait sketch of two young boys embracing,...

Price Realised: £2,099

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000

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Price realised is hammer price plus fees (31.2% Buyers Premium inclusive of VAT).

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Lot 193

Description

Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA, 
British 1769-1830- 

Portrait sketch of two young boys embracing, possibly George, 3rd Marquess Townshend (1778-1855) and his younger brother Charles (1785-1853); 

black, white, and red chalk on a prepared canvas, 70 x 57 cm. 

Provenance: 
Probably the Artist's studio sale; Christie's, London, 18 June 1831, lot 77 (195 gns to Lord Charles Townshend, the equivalent of £18,241.92 in 2025). 
Lord Charles Townshend. 
Mrs M. C. M. Nuttall; Sotheby's, London, 6 February 1952, lot 143, as 'English School' (£12, to Leger). 
with Leger Galleries, London. 
with Colnaghi's, London. 
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 4 December 2024, lot 216. 
Private Collection, UK. 

Exhibited: 
London, Leger Galleries, October-November 1952, no.14. 

Note: 
The present composition, which is executed on a particularly large scale, is an especially charming example of Lawrence's portraits of children. It very much bears a resemblance to another work by Lawrence entitled 'The Proffered Kiss', which was also purchased by Townshend from the artist's studio sale in 1831 as an unfinished sketch, and which it is believed Townshend commissioned Lawrence's studio assistant Henry Wyatt (1794-1840) to complete. A visual resemblance to the sitters Emily (1818-1906) and Laura Anne (1820-1894) Calmady is also notable, from Lawrence's double portrait in the Metropolitan Museum in New York [25.110.1]. 

Lawrence made these large scale drawings on canvas as preparatory sketches for his finished portraits, such as in his portrait of 'William Lock the Younger' in the Yale Center for British Art [B1994.11] or as finished works in their own right: see Christie's, London, 4 June 2008, lot 23 ('Double Portrait of Richard Rowland Bloxham and Andrew Bloxham, on the eve of their departure for the Sandwich Islands', 1823). Sometimes they were not taken further as 'Lawrence sometimes, nay often, laid aside the first drawing and painted on a copy' from his fear of losing the invaluable benefit of first impressions.' (A. Cunningham, 'The Lives of the most eminent British Painters, Sculptors and Architects', vol.6. 1833, p.195). 

Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

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