2024
Attributed by Hugh Belsey to Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA (1769 - 1830): a portrait of John Henry Bedford
1/7
Description
Attributed (by Hugh Belsey) to Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA (1769 - 1830): a portrait of John Henry Bedford Smith (1788-1814) oil on mahogany board, 46 x 41cm, painted c1793, gilt framed with title plate that reads: John Henry Bedford Smith, 4th son of George Smith of Burnhall, Durham and Piercefield, Mon (Monmouthshire) and Juliet, his wife. Captain 6th Dragoon Guards Born 3rd January 1788. Died 19th March 1814 by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The attribution has been put forward by Hugh Belsey MBE. Retouched and sealed. The subject of this painting, John Henry Bedford Smith, was born at Piercefield in Monmouthshire on 3 January 1788. After attending Oriel College, Oxford he joined the 6th Regiment of the Dragoon Guards but died aged just 26 years at his brother, George Thomas Smith's residence, Pendrffyrn, in Carnarvonshire on 19 March 1814. His father was George Smith, an ambitious property speculator originating from Burn Hall, County Durham. His mother, Juliet Mott, had been the subject of a painting by Sir Thomas Gainsborough, in 1766. The painting of Miss Juliet Mott, then aged 12 years, was painted by Gainsborough and given to the child's parents out of gratitude for the kindness shown to him at their house during an illness. Juliet Mott was the only surviving child and heiress of Richard Mott, an attorney of Marlesford Hall in Suffolk. Juliet went on to marry in 1774. Juliet Mott married George Smith of Burn Hall in Durham. A speculative man, he founded a bank in Monmouthshire and had a mansion built there in fashionable Piercefield Park again employing the famed architect John Soane. When the war in France broke out in 1793 his bank collapsed and he was bankrupted. His daughter, the celebrated linguist and translator Elizabeth Smith, wrote that he sold every last item from the house and its library to honour his debts. Stricken by financial problems, the family went to live with George Smith's cousin, Elizabeth Bedford and her husband a prominent Lincoln's Inn barrister named John Claxton Esquire at his country seat at Shirley, Surrey. The children were all very young. As well as Bedford as he was known there was 18 year old George Thomas, and the teenage girls Christian and Elizabeth who was to become a renowned scholar. Then there was 9 year old Juliet and a baby Richard scarcely a year old. Finally there was the son who was to restore the family fortunes: 7 year old Charles Felix Smith later Lieutenant General Sir Charles KCB, Colonel – Commandant of the Royal Engineers with the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular Wars and later campaigns. Claxton was a friend of William Johnson Temple and Dr Johnson's biographer, James Boswell who Lawrence also sketched. He was Godfather to John Henry Bedford Smith and in his will left him all his property in Surrey and an annuity of £220 per year, worth around £20,000 today. No other members of the Smith family were mentioned. Clearly Claxton was very fond of the young man. Lawrence's studios were a short walk from Claxton's chambers in Lincoln's Inn. The Smith family were staying within a short carriage ride from London when the portrait was likely painted in 1793 and it may well be that Claxton had something to do with its creation. By May 1794 John Henry Bedford Smith's father had secured a commission in the 22nd Regiment Light Dragoons, probably purchased by Claxton and the family moved to Ireland, By 1788 Lawrence had moved from Bath to London championed by his sister Elizabeth's friend Henrietta Maria Bowdler and his other Blue Stocking neighbours in Bath as well as the actress Sarah Siddons who was the toast of Drury Lane and whose portrait Lawrence had recently produced to great acclaim. I do not believe he ever went to Ireland and when his friend and correspondent Joseph Farington mentioned that he had been to see Piercefield in his letters, Lawrence did not respond, so I believe he could not have painted young Bedford at either place. The Smith's last home and the resting place of both parents and his sister, Elizabeth Smith, was Tent Lodge in Coniston in the Lake District which Lawrence did not visit. This may suggest that the portrait of Bedford is that of a 5 year old boy painted in London or Shirley around 1793. At some point after the death of her mother in Coniston in 1838 the painting of John Henry Bedford Smith, came into the possession of his sister, also Juliet Smith of Musbury, Devon. She never married and in her will dated 1849 is a bequest: I give unto Mrs Henry the wife of the said William Charles Henry my portrait of her uncle Bedford Smith. The Mrs Henry in question was Margaret Allan the daughter of the acclaimed Scottish Geologist and Banker Thomas Allan and Christian Smith his wife born 1777 died Turin, Italy in 1817, the sister of the testator. The portrait came into the possession of the Henry family. At some point both this painting and that of John Henry Bedford Smith's mother hung together in the Henry's collection though how she came to be in the possession of the Henrys is unknown. At some time the Juliet Mott Gainsborough was sold and a copy made which to this day hangs in the dining room of a Henry family member whereas that of her tragically short lived son Bedford Smith is no longer alongside it. Not available for in-house P&P
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
Attributed (by Hugh Belsey) to Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA (1769 - 1830): a portrait of John Henry Bedford Smith (1788-1814) oil on mahogany board, 46 x 41cm, painted c1793, gilt framed with title plate that reads: John Henry Bedford Smith, 4th son of George Smith of Burnhall, Durham and Piercefield, Mon (Monmouthshire) and Juliet, his wife. Captain 6th Dragoon Guards Born 3rd January 1788. Died 19th March 1814 by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The attribution has been put forward by Hugh Belsey MBE. Retouched and sealed. The subject of this painting, John Henry Bedford Smith, was born at Piercefield in Monmouthshire on 3 January 1788. After attending Oriel College, Oxford he joined the 6th Regiment of the Dragoon Guards but died aged just 26 years at his brother, George Thomas Smith's residence, Pendrffyrn, in Carnarvonshire on 19 March 1814. His father was George Smith, an ambitious property speculator originating from Burn Hall, County Durham. His mother, Juliet Mott, had been the subject of a painting by Sir Thomas Gainsborough, in 1766. The painting of Miss Juliet Mott, then aged 12 years, was painted by Gainsborough and given to the child's parents out of gratitude for the kindness shown to him at their house during an illness. Juliet Mott was the only surviving child and heiress of Richard Mott, an attorney of Marlesford Hall in Suffolk. Juliet went on to marry in 1774. Juliet Mott married George Smith of Burn Hall in Durham. A speculative man, he founded a bank in Monmouthshire and had a mansion built there in fashionable Piercefield Park again employing the famed architect John Soane. When the war in France broke out in 1793 his bank collapsed and he was bankrupted. His daughter, the celebrated linguist and translator Elizabeth Smith, wrote that he sold every last item from the house and its library to honour his debts. Stricken by financial problems, the family went to live with George Smith's cousin, Elizabeth Bedford and her husband a prominent Lincoln's Inn barrister named John Claxton Esquire at his country seat at Shirley, Surrey. The children were all very young. As well as Bedford as he was known there was 18 year old George Thomas, and the teenage girls Christian and Elizabeth who was to become a renowned scholar. Then there was 9 year old Juliet and a baby Richard scarcely a year old. Finally there was the son who was to restore the family fortunes: 7 year old Charles Felix Smith later Lieutenant General Sir Charles KCB, Colonel – Commandant of the Royal Engineers with the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular Wars and later campaigns. Claxton was a friend of William Johnson Temple and Dr Johnson's biographer, James Boswell who Lawrence also sketched. He was Godfather to John Henry Bedford Smith and in his will left him all his property in Surrey and an annuity of £220 per year, worth around £20,000 today. No other members of the Smith family were mentioned. Clearly Claxton was very fond of the young man. Lawrence's studios were a short walk from Claxton's chambers in Lincoln's Inn. The Smith family were staying within a short carriage ride from London when the portrait was likely painted in 1793 and it may well be that Claxton had something to do with its creation. By May 1794 John Henry Bedford Smith's father had secured a commission in the 22nd Regiment Light Dragoons, probably purchased by Claxton and the family moved to Ireland, By 1788 Lawrence had moved from Bath to London championed by his sister Elizabeth's friend Henrietta Maria Bowdler and his other Blue Stocking neighbours in Bath as well as the actress Sarah Siddons who was the toast of Drury Lane and whose portrait Lawrence had recently produced to great acclaim. I do not believe he ever went to Ireland and when his friend and correspondent Joseph Farington mentioned that he had been to see Piercefield in his letters, Lawrence did not respond, so I believe he could not have painted young Bedford at either place. The Smith's last home and the resting place of both parents and his sister, Elizabeth Smith, was Tent Lodge in Coniston in the Lake District which Lawrence did not visit. This may suggest that the portrait of Bedford is that of a 5 year old boy painted in London or Shirley around 1793. At some point after the death of her mother in Coniston in 1838 the painting of John Henry Bedford Smith, came into the possession of his sister, also Juliet Smith of Musbury, Devon. She never married and in her will dated 1849 is a bequest: I give unto Mrs Henry the wife of the said William Charles Henry my portrait of her uncle Bedford Smith. The Mrs Henry in question was Margaret Allan the daughter of the acclaimed Scottish Geologist and Banker Thomas Allan and Christian Smith his wife born 1777 died Turin, Italy in 1817, the sister of the testator. The portrait came into the possession of the Henry family. At some point both this painting and that of John Henry Bedford Smith's mother hung together in the Henry's collection though how she came to be in the possession of the Henrys is unknown. At some time the Juliet Mott Gainsborough was sold and a copy made which to this day hangs in the dining room of a Henry family member whereas that of her tragically short lived son Bedford Smith is no longer alongside it. Not available for in-house P&P
10am START - The Bi-Monthly Art & Interiors Sale
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
551 Europa Boulevard
Westbrook
Warrington
WA5 7TP
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
We can offer in-house Postage & Packaging on most lots. The Postage quotes to Mainland UK are stated in the lot descriptions. Please contact our Office on 01925 658833 or via E-mail to add P&P onto your invoice.
Our postage charges start from £14.00 plus VAT. All Items are sent Parcelforce 48 hour to the name and address registered on the-saleroom.com.
Please be advised that we do not pack for couriers.
We are happy to provide postage quotes prior to the auction.
Important Information
*** PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS OR PAYPAL PAYMENTS ***
*** ALL GOODS ARE SOLD AS SEEN & ALL BIDS CONSTITUTE A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT ***
WE ARE CLOSED FOR SATURDAY COLLECTIONS AND ALL UK BANK HOLIDAYS
YOU CAN COLLECT ON THE THURSDAY, FRIDAY & MONDAY AFTER THE AUCTION FROM 10AM - 4PM ONLY. YOU ARE NO LONGER REQIURED TO BOOK A COLLECTION SLOT.
BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: It is your responsibility as the bidder to establish whether your bid has been successful or not following an auction and to make prompt payment. Warrington Auction cannot be held responsible for contacting or chasing winning bidders in any instance.
ALL GOODS LEFT IN OUR POSSESSION (REGARDLESS WHETHER PAID OR NOT) ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY AFTER THE AUCTION, WILL BE RE-ENTERED INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE SALE.
*** We accept Condition Reports up to 13:00 on the day prior to the sale ***
*** Please note that glass is not insured for shipping ***
*** The Sale of Goods Act 1979 and Consumer Rights Act 2015 do not apply to this sale ***
*** International Buyers may be asked to place a deposit before being allowed to bid on items ***
All items should be paid for and collected by 5pm on the Monday after the sale. For any items not collected by 5pm on the Monday there is a storage charge of £5 per lot per day. STORAGE CHARGES WILL NOT BE WAIVED.
Please note that ALL items are sold as seen.
All electrical goods entered into the auction will be PAT tested for safety reasons prior to entry into sale. PAT testing establishes the safety of the electrical current in an item and is not an indicator or guarantee that the item is in working order.
If you wish to know if an item is in ‘working order’ we recommend that, when possible, you visit the Auction house to personally test the item. As we recognise that in this current climate of lockdowns you may not be able to attend, if requested we will endeavour to provide a condition report for the item. Please note that in most cases we will simply be able to tell you if an item powers on and ‘appears’ to us to be basically functioning, again, however we do not provide any guarantee of the items functionality.
Commission 24% + VAT
Minimum Commission N/A
Minimum Bid £10.00
P&P:
All of our postage is offered in house. Please speak with our Office on 01925 658833 to discuss costs. Prices start from £14.00+VAT and we believe that they are competitive prices in order to ensure that the buying process can be a profitable one for you.
Please be advised that we do not insure glass items for postage. If you require insurance on your glass items, we advise that you contact a private courier. We pack all items to the best of our ability but never claim to be professional packers and as such hold no responsibility if glass items arrived damaged.
Payment:
You can pay via the invoice Pay Link with a debit card or alternately via Bank Transfer to the details on your invoice. All payments must be made by this means unless you pay on collection. We will not take card payments over the telephone. Please note we DO NOT accept payment by credit card or PayPal.
Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions
These Terms & Conditions are correct and enforceable as at 01.01.2023
"Auctioneer" means Warrington Auction Limited of 551 Europa Boulevard Westbrook Warrington WA5 7TP.
“Seller" means person or persons named on the Schedule hereto. Where the Seller comprises two or more persons, the singular used in these Conditions shall include the plural and any obligations on the part of the Seller will be joint and several.
“Goods" means the goods identified on the Schedule hereto.
"Buyer" means a person or persons, including a firm or company, making the highest bid for the Goods or any part thereof whose bid shall exceed or be equal to the Reserve, if any.
“Reserve" means the lowest price at which the Auctioneers are authorised to sell the Goods being stipulated in the Schedule hereto. Auctioneers discretion of 10% will be used where a reserve which is not fixed has been agreed.
"Notice" shall mean a communication in writing and "Notify" and "Notification" shall be construed accordingly.
“Catalogue” means the paper or electronic listing of the Sellers’ Goods, or any other description given by the Auctioneer.
1. The Auctioneer is instructed by the Seller to act as the Seller's Agent to sell the Goods by auction subject to the Conditions.
2. The Auctioneer is not authorised to sell the Goods other than to the Buyer.
3. The Seller indemnifies the Auctioneer insofar as is possible against any liability under The Misrepresentation Act 1987 or The Consumer Protection Act 1987 or any statutory re-enactment thereof.
4. Whilst every effort will be made by the Auctioneers to Catalogue Goods accurately the Auctioneers shall not be liable to the Seller for any errors in the catalogue description and the Seller shall be liable to the Buyer for any errors in the catalogue description whether or not such errors entitle the Buyer to rescind the sale under the Auctioneers Conditions of Sale.
5. The Auctioneers are authorised to disclose the name of the Seller in any description of the Goods in a sale catalogue unless the Seller gives to the Auctioneers written instructions not to do so not later than seven days after the acceptance of the Goods for auction.
6. The Auctioneers are authorised to sell the Goods on the basis that they are sold as seen with all faults imperfections and errors of description and further upon terms that the Auctioneers exclude for themselves and for the Seller all responsibility for errors of description or for the genuineness or authenticity of the Goods or any part or parts thereof for any default or defect in the Goods howsoever caused. All buyers are responsible for establishing the genuineness or authenticity of goods offered for sale for themselves and are strongly advised to view items in person. Although every effort is taken in the writing of condition reports they are a personal opinion and are not to be regarded as binding, no liability will be accepted for any discrepancies in condition, weights or measurements. The Auctioneers as agents for the Seller are not authorised to give any warranty in respect of the Goods or any part thereof and the Auctioneer should exclude any and every implied condition or warranty relating to the Goods otherwise except the warranty as to title implied under Section 12 of The Sale of Goods Act 1979.
7. The Seller warrants that he is entitled to have possession of and to sell the Goods and is entitled to instruct the Auctioneers to sell them by auction or private treaty. The Seller further warrants that all the information supplied to the Auctioneer is accurate and indemnifies the Auctioneers against any liability howsoever arising in respect of any inaccuracies in the above information, and against all costs and expenses incurred by or on the Auctioneer behalf in dealing with any claim arising in that respect.
8. Notwithstanding any other terms of these Conditions, if within five days after the sale, Monday, the auction house has received from the Buyer of any Lot notice in writing that in his view the Lot is a deliberate forgery and within five days after such notification, Saturday, the Buyer returns the same to the relevant auction in the same condition as at the time of sale then the sale will be rescinded and any amount paid in respect of the Lot will be refunded. Provided that the Buyer shall have no right under this Condition if; -
8.a - the Buyer is not able to satisfy the auction house that the Lot is a deliberate forgery on the basis of written evidence from experts;
8.b- the only method of establishing at the date of publication of the Catalogue that the Lot was a deliberate forgery was by means of scientific processes not generally accepted for use until after publication of the Catalogue or a process which was unreasonably expensive or impractical;
8.c- the Buyer is not able to transfer a good and marketable title to the Lot free from any third-party claims;
8.d- Any claim by a Buyer shall be limited to any amount paid in respect of the Lot and shall not extend to any consequential loss suffered by him as a result of the Lot being a deliberate forgery.
8.e - The benefit of this Condition shall not be assignable and shall only extend to the Buyer, being the person to whom the original invoice was made out by the relevant auction house in respect of the Lot when sold and who has since the sale retained uninterrupted, unencumbered ownership of that lot.
9. The Goods shall be put up for sale without Reserve unless either the Auctioneers are notified by the Seller at least 48 hours prior to any sale of the Goods or any part or parts thereof of a Reserve or a Reserve is entered in the Schedule hereto.
10. The Auctioneers authority to sell shall be revoked provided the Seller notifies the Auctioneers not less than 24 hours prior to the sale that the Goods are to be withdrawn from sale. The Seller shall pay to the Auctioneer prior to return of the Goods to the Seller following such withdrawal a charge of thirty five percent (35%) of the Reserve or, in the absence of a Reserve by reference to a mid estimate price reasonably fixed by the Auctioneer at the date of the sale from which the Goods are withdrawn, this is subject to a minimum withdrawal charge of £20 plus VAT. The application, or increase, of a reserve by the seller after acceptance shall be treated as a withdrawal.
11. Any Reserve must be agreed between the seller and the auction house and shall be no less than £50 per lot. If the seller and auction house agree a reserve, the Auctioneers are authorised to sell at a price no less than 90% of the reserve price, unless the
reserve price is fixed. Agreed reserves are valid for one sale only, re-entered items must have either an agreed lower reserve or no reserve. It is the responsibility of the seller to contact the auction to agree this otherwise the item will be re-offered without reserve
12. If the Goods remain unsold after any Auction, the Auctioneers shall be authorised to sell the Goods at the next appropriate sale unless otherwise instructed by the Seller that the Goods are withdrawn under Condition 9, by no later than the Tuesday following the sale. If the Goods remain unsold after any Auction, the Auctioneers reserve the right to re-enter the Goods at the next appropriate sale or dispose of any items not promptly collected within five days of sale by the Seller, items must be collected by the Tuesday following the sale. Any goods unsold, not collected by the seller within five days of the auction date will be entered into the next available sale with no reserve and the proceeds given to a registered charity, unless other arrangements have been made with the auction. The auctioneers are under no obligation to contact either the seller or buyer of any goods to inform them of the results of a sale and vendors and purchasers are advised to contact the saleroom on the day after the relevant sale or to check online.
13. If the Buyer fails to supply their name and address or that of the person on whose behalf, he has bid the Auctioneers are authorised by the Seller to put up the Goods again at any time during the Auction.
14. The Auctioneer is authorised by the Seller to bid on his behalf at their discretion up to the amount of the reserve, to buy in the Goods on the Sellers behalf as unsold below the Reserve or to withdraw the Goods as unsold if the Reserve is not reached.
15. The Auctioneers are authorised by the Seller to bid on behalf of those persons who have left with them before the Auction written or emailed authority to bid on their behalf.
16. The Auctioneer may take reasonable steps to regulate the bidding and to refuse undesirable bids at his own discretion.
17. The Auctioneers have the Seller's authority to divide any lot, combine any two or more lots from the same Seller or to withdraw any lot or lots from the sale. The auctioneer reserves the right to offer for sale any item at any premises he deems most appropriate.
18. The seller shall pay the auctioneers a commission of 18% plus VAT with a lotting fee of £3.00 plus VAT per lot, and 1.5% insurance fee plus VAT, of the sum realised for the goods (or any other such rate as may be fixed by the auctioneers as the prevailing rate on the date of the sale). There are no picture fees or internet fees.
19. The auctioneers will deduct their commission and charges from any sum received by them from the buyer and are authorised by the Seller to retain possession of the goods until such time as all charges relating to the goods and the sale price plus buyers commission have been paid.
20. Provided the Auctioneers have been duly paid by the Buyer and subject to Condition 22 the Auctioneers shall pay the Seller the net proceeds of sale less any sum due to the Auctioneers from the Seller less any costs authorised in Condition 22 four weeks from the Monday following the date of the sale when paid by credit transfer, in all cases payment by cheque will be at 28 days, cash payments are not available unless in exceptional circumstances as agreed with the auction house. The Auctioneers act as the Sellers agents and are not liable to the Seller for any default by the Buyer.
21. The Auctioneers are authorised not to credit the Sellers account if the Buyer has exercised his rights to return the Goods to the Auctioneers under Condition 8 of the Auctioneers Conditions of Sale by auction. For the purposes of that Condition 8 the Seller authorised the Auctioneer, subject to the Seller's right of reimbursement from the Buyer, to consult any expert at the Seller's expense and the Seller shall pay to the Auctioneers on demand such sum as the Auctioneers may reasonably require by way of payment in advance of such costs.
22. If the Goods or any part thereof sold as a separate lot are proved to be a deliberate forgery the Seller authorises the Auctioneer to repay the Buyer the purchase price including Buyer's commission already paid by the Buyer and the Seller may be asked to pay to the Auctioneer a sum equal to the Buyer's premium and in addition Conditions 11 and 19 shall apply.
23. The Seller shall be deemed to have had due and proper notice of any matters relating to these Conditions of within 24 hours of the receipt of their Acceptance Forms.
24. The Seller undertakes to notify the Auctioneers of any change of address, contact telephone number and e-mail address.
25. The Auctioneers reserve the right to store or arrange for the storage of Goods delivered to them for sale either on their own premises or elsewhere at their sole discretion.
26. Unless other arrangements have been agreed with the sale room. If the Goods are left in the Auctioneers possession for five days after any sale date, the Monday following the Wednesday sale or Tuesday for the Sunday Timed Sale, the Auctioneers retain the right to charge £5 per lot per day for storage and are authorised by the Seller to sell the Goods at their discretion after 10 days, to defray costs and storage charges.
27. (a) Unless otherwise instructed in writing all Goods on the Auctioneers premises and in their custody will be insured against the risks of fire burglary and water damage (but not against accidental breakage or damage).
(b) The Auctioneer shall not be responsible for accident breakage loss or damage howsoever caused unless directly caused by negligence of our employees.
(c) In respect of any Goods delivered to the Auctioneers if the Seller has in force a policy of insurance in which the article is specifically mentioned as being insured whether or not for an agreed sum or value, the Seller shall notify his insurers of the Auctioneers interest in such policy or policies.
28. The Auctioneers are authorised by the Seller to charge the Buyer a premium at the rate of 24% plus VAT of the hammer price of each lot with a £3 plus VAT minimum charge.
29. Purchasers of any item must pay in full within 24 hours and collect item within five days of a Wednesday sale and within 24 hours of a Timed Sale. Anyone failing to do so will be charged £5 per lot per day. Any item remaining in the auction house 7 days after the sale will be regarded as unrequired by the buyer, whether paid for or not, and will be re-entered into sale to defray any outstanding costs and storage, any monies remaining will be forwarded to the customer. Unless alternative written arrangements have been agreed with the auction house, or postage has been arranged and payment completed.
30. Any damage to any item caused by viewing, inspection or any other reason will be considered as a sale to the viewer, payable at mid estimate price plus auction house commissions. This payment will be completed before vacating the auction room.
31. ARR (Artist’s Resale Right) may apply to the buyer’s invoice if the hammer price of qualifying works of art achieved is higher than the UK Pound Sterling equivalent of 1000 Euros and is calculated on a sliding scale. The sliding scale ranges from 4% to 0.25%. The charge will be added onto the hammer price.
32. Gemstones; we are unable to differentiate between natural and synthetic gemstones. Refunds will not be given if a stone is catalogued as tested.
33. All values mentioned in this document are at the prevailing rate at the time.
34. These Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law. All transactions to which these Conditions apply, and all connected matters shall also be governed by English Law.
