REYNOLDS, Sir Joshua (1723-1792). Portrait-painter.
Autograph Receipt Signed, ½-page 4to (mounting strip to the left, not affecting the text, and in good condition), 6 May 1771. A receipt for £36 15s from Lord Claremount [sic], for the picture of Lady Ancram.
Between 1769 and 1771 Reynolds painted four portraits of Lady Ancram (see David Mannings Sir Joshua Reynolds, a Complete Catalogue of his Paintings, 2 vols, 2000, page 294, nos 1062-5. The artist recorded thirteen sittings by Lady Ancram between 27 February 1769 and 28 January 1771. He entered Lord Claremont's payment in the first volume of his ledger some time after 12 April 1771 (presumably 6 May) (see M. Cormack The Ledgers of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Walpole Society Vol XLII, 1968-70, pages 105-169). Although Mannings suggests that this invoice relates to the portrait now at Blicking Hall (NT), it is perhaps equally likely to be for the prime version, by reason of the slightly higher price of 35 nuineas, as both the first and second portraits are 94 x 75 cms, whereas the Blicking portrait measures only 74 x 61 cms, a size for which Reynolds normally charged 30 guineas.
[No: 21192]