Circle of Sir William Beechey RA (1753-1839) Portrait of Robert, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, seated at his desk, in black coat and white stock Inscribed l.l. 'Robert, 4th Earl / of Buckinghamshire / 1814', oil on canvas 90 x 69cm Provenance: Cheffins, 23 March 2011, Lot 536; Wood Hall, Arkesden, Essex. Condition report: Oil on canvas which is unlined and has a suppliers stamp for Roberson & Miller as well as a tax stamp. The canvas tension is slightly slack but the picture is generally in plane. The paint layer is stable in the centre of the painting but around the edges there are areas of lifting and flaking paint, this is particularly bad along the lower edge where the are numerous losses. The painting has been partially clean with old residues still present in the darker paint passages creating a slightly yellowed cast. The painting is poorly fitted in the frame. There are large losses to the moulding on the frame and the original gilded surface is covered with bronze paint.