Wednesday 9 July 2025

Lot 193

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

View More

Lot 193

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

Starting Bid: £1,400

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000

Get Shipping Quote

See shipping conditions on our partner's website.

Get Shipping Quote

See shipping conditions on our partner's website.

Additional fees apply 31.2%. Inc.VAT/sales tax - Bid Calculator

Please note that submitting this bid is legally binding.

Share this lot

Let your friends and family know about this lot

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). 

Please login to request a condition report or ask more questions.

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.

Own a similar item?

Receive alerts about similar lots

Continue Browsing

View More Lots View More Lots

LOT 194

Sir Thomas Lawrence, PRA FRS, British 1769-1830-  Portrait study of Mrs John Hodgkin;  black,...

Estimate: £2000 - £3000

Starting Bid: £1,400

LOT 195

Follower of Sir Joshua Reynolds, PRA, British 1723-1792-  A sketch of a woman, seated, reading...

Estimate: £200 - £300

Starting Bid: £140

LOT 196

Follower of Sir Godfrey Kneller, German / English 1646-1723-  Portrait of a lady, traditionally...

Estimate: £600 - £800

Current Bid: £440

LOT 197

Follower of John Baptist de Medina, Flemish / Spanish / Scottish 1659-1710-  Portrait of a lady,...

Estimate: £800 - £1200

Starting Bid: £550

LOT 198

Follower of Enoch Seeman, Polish / English c.1689-1745-  Portrait of a lady, traditionally...

Estimate: £600 - £800

Starting Bid: £420

LOT 199

Circle of Allan Ramsay, Scottish 1713-1784-  Pair of portraits: Portrait of a gentleman,...

Estimate: £700 - £1000

Starting Bid: £480

LOT 200

Circle of Thomas Beach, British 1738-1806-  Portrait of a lady, traditionally identified as Mrs....

Estimate: £600 - £800

Starting Bid: £420

LOT 201

Circle of Sir William Beechey, RA, British 1753-1839-  Portrait of an officer, traditionally...

Estimate: £400 - £600

Starting Bid: £280

LOT 202

Circle of Sir Henry Raeburn, FRSE RA RSA, Scottish 1756-1823-  Portrait of a gentleman,...

Estimate: £600 - £800

Starting Bid: £420

LOT 203

Circle of Sir William Beechey, RA, British 1753-1839-  Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally...

Estimate: £1000 - £1500

Starting Bid: £700

LOT 204

William Millar, Scottish c.1740-1776-  Portrait of an officer, traditionally identified as...

Estimate: £600 - £800

Current Bid: £600

LOT 205

After Sir Henry Raeburn, FRSE RA RSA, Scottish 1756-1823-  Portrait of a lady, traditionally...

Estimate: £200 - £400

Starting Bid: £140

LOT 206

Circle of Sir Francis Grant, PRA, Scottish 1803-1878-  Portrait of a lady from the Dixon family,...

Estimate: £300 - £500

Starting Bid: £200

LOT 207

Circle of Sir William Boxall, RA, British 1800-1879-  Portrait of a lady, traditionally...

Estimate: £300 - £400

Starting Bid: £200

LOT 208

Catherine Read, Scottish 1723-1778-  Portrait of Catherine Pelham as a child, three quarter...

Estimate: £1500 - £2500

Starting Bid: £1,000

LOT 209

Charles Hayter, British 1761-1835-  The Tattersall family in their box at Covent Garden Opera...

Estimate: £400 - £600

Current Bid: £700

Newsletter SignupNewsletter Signup

Keyword AlertsKeyword Alerts