Lot 46: Attributed to John Astley (Wem, Shropshire 1724-1787 Dukinfield Lodge, Cheshire)

Attributed to John Astley (Wem, Shropshire 1724-1787 Dukinfield Lodge, Cheshire)
Portrait of a lady, said to be Mrs. Penning, half-length, in a pale grey dress with pink ribbons, and pearls, standing at a spinet, with a musical score
indistinctly inscribed and dated '...man[?] 1764' (lower right, on the spinet)
oil on canvas
30 x 25¼ in. (76.2 x 64.2 cm.)
indistinctly inscribed '...OL...' (centre right, on the score)

With Newhouse Galleries, London, 1992, as 'Attributed to Thomas Gainsborough'.
Anonymous sale, Sotheby's New York, 7 October 1994, lot 9, as 'Circle of Allan Ramsey'.
Anonymous sale, Sotheby's London, 3 April 1996, lot 59, as 'John Astley'.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.