George Romney, RA, 
British 1724-1802- 
Portrait of Oliver Farrer (1742-1808), half-length,...

George Romney, RA, 
British 1724-1802- 

Portrait of Oliver Farrer (1742-1808), half-length, seated, in a dark green coat and yellow waistcoat, holding a paper in his left hand; 

oil on canvas, inscribed 'Oliver Farrer' on the upper stretcher bar, 76 x 63 cm. 

Provenance: 
The sitter;
Thereafter stayed in the Farrer Family (Hung at Ingleborough Hall, Clapham, Yorkshire, until the 20^th century when transferred to the offices of Farrer & Co., 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London). 

Literature: 
H. Ward and W. Roberts, 'Romney, A Biographical and Critical Essay with a Catalogue Raisonné of his Works', London, 1904, II, p.53.
A. Kidson, 'George Romney, A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings', New Haven and London, 2015, I, p.211, no.435, illustrated. 

Note: 
Oliver Farrer was the eldest son of James Farrer (1719-1766) of Clapham, Yorkshire, and brother to James and Thomas Farrer (see lots 104 and 106). Oliver, not having any money, walked from Yorkshire to London to be articled to the Coulthurst firm of solicitors in Chancery Lane. He was known as 'Penny-bun Oliver' because at that time his lunch usually consisted of a penny-bun and water from the fountain. In time, he became a partner, and then sole partner in the firm, which changed from 'Coulthurst', to 'Coulthurst and Farrer', and eventually to 'Farrer'. Oliver was a friend of Thomas Coutts, the banker, and in due course sent for his brother James to come down from Yorkshire and join him at the firm. They were very successful and it is said that they acted for 'almost everybody who was anybody'. Oliver married Anne Fawcett (d.1808).

Probably painted in 1787, together with the pendant portrait of the sitter's wife (see Kidson no.436). Oliver Farrer had sittings on 6, 12 and 28 March and paid the total fee of 50 guineas for both pictures in May 1787.