After George Romney, British 1734-1802- Portrait of John Smith; oil on canvas, 127.5x101.5cm Provenance: by descent to Sir Thomas Spencer Smith, Bt.; Sabin Galleries, London 1960 and 1970; private collection, where purchased by the present owner Exhibited: 'English Portraits Mainly Eighteenth Century', Sabin Galleries London, 1960, no.21; 'English Portrait 1500-1830', Sabin Galleries London, 1970, no.31 Note: the original work by George Romney is held by the Barber Institute, item no 52.4, painted for one of Smith's three sons. This example is by a contemporary copyist painted for one of John Smith's other two sons. We are grateful to Alex Kidson for his assistance in cataloguing this lot. canvas relined, mid/late 20th century. on a wooden stretcher with corner bracing, early 19th century. under UV lamp inspection: signs of heightening to the light areas of the sky and hands and face under the varnish; old retouching under the varnish around the outside of the hair and head and to the curtain/backdrop to the right of the head; retouching and heightening to the shadows over the varnish to the hair on the right edge, to the right hand shoulder, to the chair arm, the thigh of the front leg. overall appears in good condition. in an English carved and gilded Lely frame, mid/late 18th century, with a later added infill to the rebate, to varying sizes. flaking, blistering and minor losses throughout. frame appears in fair condition, requires re-gilding.