Lot 45: Colvin Smith, R.S.A.

Colvin Smith, R.S.A.
1795-1875
portrait of francis lord jeffrey (1773-1850)
half length, wearing a black coat and white stock
oil on canvas
90 by 70 cm., 35 1/2 by 27 1/2 in.
Lord Jeffrey was a Scottish Judge, critic and editor from 1803-29 of The Edinburgh Review. He was painted by Andrew Geddes in 1820, drawn by John Linnell and sculpted by Patrick Park (all National Portrait Gallery). Another version by Colvin Smith is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
J.E. Lockhart (Peter's letter, 1819), pp.53-5, bemoaned the inability of artists to capture Jeffrey's likeness - 'to catch the minutest elements of its eloquent power would, I think, be a hard enough task for any painter...'