Mrs Mary Desbitt With Dove After Sir Joshua Reynolds - Portrait Watercolour

Mrs Mary Desbitt with Dove, After Sir Joshua Reynolds - Portrait watercolour

This is a beautiful and original 19th Century Watercolour Portrait Painting depicting Mrs Mary Desbitt holding on to a Dove with her head turned towards the left.

Mary Davis (c.1735–1825) rose from humble origins to marry the banker Alexander Nesbitt by 1762. She was apparently roundly unfaithful to her husband, who died insane and bankrupt in 1772. She then became the acknowledged mistress of the 3rd Earl of Bristol. Following his death in 1779, she benefited considerably from his will. The present picture, depicting Mrs. Nesbitt with the traditional symbol of Innocence, a dove (cf. Greuze P428), may have been intended to rehabilitate her reputation following the death of her protector. The 4th Marquess of Hertford bought the portrait, having seen it in a photograph. Despite his agent Samuel Mawson’s comment that ‘it is certainly not the first-rate picture and all Your Lordships by that master/ are/ finer’, he wrote explaining that ‘I should like Mrs Nesbitt – Mrs Robinson & her will do well for Paris where I have no Sir Joshua's.

Painted circa 1880-1890 by a follower of 'Sir Joshua Reynolds' (1723-1792).

The original Painting was executed by Sir Joshua Reynolds during the 18th Century and it is now part of the famous Wallace Collection.

The piece is mounted within the original beautiful quality 19th Century reeded & gilt oval glazed frame.

Attributes:-

Watercolour Painting

Attributed verso to the artist 'Roger Smith'

Circa: 1880-1890

Attached verso is an old label which includes the title of the work and the artist's name.

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Condition : Offered in an overall excellent original condition and ready to hang immediately.
Materials : Watercolour
Origin : British
Manufacture Date : 1880-1890