Lot 71: JAMES SCOULER (BRITISH, 1740-1812)

A young gentleman and lady; he, in red coat, embroidered white waistcoat and lace cravat, powdered hair en queue; and she, in bright-blue dress with lace underdress, gold striped scarf falling from her upswept brown hair and knotted at corsage
he signed and dated 'Scouler 1774' (lower right) and she signed and dated 'Scouler' (lower left) and '1774' (lower right)
ovals, 1 1/16 in. (28 mm.) high, silver-gilt bracelet clasp frames with outer seed pearl borders, blue and white enamel and seed pearl ribbon and bow cresting centered by a ruby with ruby suspended on a pendant (2)

G. C. Williamson, 'Mr Francis Wellesley's Collection of Miniatures and Drawings, part I', The Connoisseur, LI, no. 202, June 1918, p. 76 (praised as 'the finest miniatures by Scouler that have ever come under our notice'), the lady illustrated p. 69.
Catalogue of the Miniatures and Portraits in Plumbago or Pencil belonging to Francis & Minnie Wellesley, Woking and London, n.d., p. 106 ('no other miniatures by Scouler of anything like equal quality to these are know. They are almost equal to Smart at his best').

Francis Wellesley; Sotheby's, London, 28 - 2 July 1920, lot 707. The late Samuel John Pegg, Hillcrest, Letchworth Road, Leicester; Christie's, London, 21 December 1939, lot 207 (20gns.).

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