Lot 15: Henry Pickering (fl.1740-c.1771)

Portrait of Margaret Smith, of Cotescue, full-length, seated, in a pink dress with white lace apron, holding a garland of flowers, in a landscape with a sheep
signed and dated 'H. Pickering/Pixit 1762' (lower right, on a rock) and with identifying inscription (on an old label attached to the reverse of the frame)
oil on canvas
40 1/4 x 51 in. (102.2 x 130 cm.)

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 22 November 1974, lot 159 (sold £630).
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 18 March 1977, lot 26 (£2,000 to the present owner).

According to an old label on the reverse of the frame the sitter was the daughter of Edward Smith, of Cotescue, and his wife Anne. Cotescue Park is near Coverham in Yorkshire. Pickering was based in London in the 1740s, but from the 1750s he seems to have worked in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales and was probably based in Manchester.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis