Lot 258: CHARLES JOHN ROBERTSON (b. c. 1779)

Lady Nelthorpe, seated under a tree in a landscape, facing right in white dress with high ruffled collar, pink bordered purple surcoat, holding a glove in her right hand and a plumed cream straw hat in her left hand, her dark hair upswept and dressed in ringlets signed and dated on the reverse 'C. J Robertson. pinxit Apr. 1813.' rectangular, 7 11/16 x 5 9/16 in. (195 x 141 mm.), heavy ormolu frame with foliate spandrels PROVENANCE Mrs C. B. Prowse, in 1929. LITERATURE B. S. Long, British Miniatures, London, 1929, p. 369, praised as 'the miniature is so good that in my opinion C. J. Robertson merits a considerable reputation'. L. R. Schidlof, The Miniature in Europe, Graz, 1964, II, p. 684. D. Foskett, A Dictionary of British Miniature Painters, London, 1972, I, p. 473 (praised as 'important' and 'well painted and reminiscent of Andrew Robertson. The colours were harmonious and the portrait well drawn. The shading on the face was brown and grey, and the short soft strokes with which the face was painted were almost indistinguishable'). D. Foskett, Miniatures: Dictionary and Guide, Woodbridge, 1987, p. 631. EXHIBITION London, Royal Academy, 1814, no. 413.