Lot 263: John Smart Junior (British, 1776-1809)

Mr. Booty, ship's bursar, wearing jacket, waistcoat and tied cravat, his hair powdered, stone surround
pencil on paper, signed with initals and dated, J S J. delin. 1797, the reverse inscribed in pencil, Mr Booty/ Ship's Bursar, gilded wood frame
Rectangular, 159mm. (6 1/4ins.) high

John Smart junior was 21 when he drew this portrait, presumably taken from an original drawing by his father, John Smart (1742/3-1811). Smart Junior was the son of Sarah Midgeley and was possibly taught by Richard Cosway whilst his father was in India and later by his father.
John Smart senior left Madras to return to England in 1795, arriving in November of that year. Drawings by Smart senior dated 1795 (and probably drawn on the voyage back to England) bear a very close resemblance to the present lot (see D. Foskett, John Smart, the Man and his Miniatures, 1964, pl.XXI, no. 77 and 78). It is probable that whilst living with his father, under his tuition, Smart junior copied the present lot. For a young artist he shows considerable skill and the execution is almost indistinguishable to that of his father's. Smart senior applied to take his son to India in 1808. He died four months after arriving with his father in Madras in 1809.