Lot 50: John Raphael Smith (1752-1812)

Portrait of the Right Honorable Charles James Fox, M.P. (1749-1806), seated in his study, in a blue coat and mustard waistcoat and britches
pastel
24 x 17 1/4 in. (61 x 44 cm.)

Another version of this portrait by Smith was sold Christie's, London, 7 November 1995, lot 60, which was engraved by S.W.Reynolds, 1802, London and again 13 October 1806, London, with differences.
A variant of this portrait in oils, 29 1/4 x 24 1/2 in., with the sitter's hair less unkempt and sky behind was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 6 December 1980, lot 125, illustrated, and a closer version in pastel, 24 1/2 x 17 1/8 in., at Christie's, London, 10 July 1984, lot 153. One of these was probably the work exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1802, no. 346. A much larger version in oils, three-quarter-length, 55 1/4 x 44 in., signed and dated 1808 and showing the sitter looking rather older, was sold in these Rooms on 27 June 1980, lot 134.

Fox was the third son of Henry Fox, afterwards Baron Holland of Foxley and Lady Caroline Georgina, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Richmond, grandson of King Charles II. He was an M.P. from 1768 and joined Edmund Burke in opposing the American war and attacking Lord North. He retained his liberal views but his influence was somewhat undermined by the vehemence of his language. He was an intimate of the Prince of Wales and opposed to the policies of King George III, in his canvassing he was infamously supported by Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. When Lord Grenville became Prime Minister after Pitt's death the King accepted Fox's appointment as Foreign Secretary. By this time Fox's health was breaking down and he made his last speech in Parliament on 19 June 1806. One of the last things Fox did was to pledge to abolish the slave trade. Fox died on 13 September in the Duke of Devonshire's house in London. He was buried in Westminster Abbey by the side of his political arch-enemy, Pitt. At the time of this pastel, about 1802, he was working on his History of the Revolution of 1688.

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