CIRCLE OF SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS (1723-1792) An oil on canvas p...

Hammer

£950

CIRCLE OF SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS (1723-1792) An oil on canvas portrait thought to depict a young Charles James Fox (1749-1806), son of Henry Fox 1st Baron of Holland (1705-1774) and future prominent Whig statesman, Foreign Secretary.

59cm x 44.5cm

Fox was a gambling addict, womaniser, debtor, and dandy who was forgiven his failings by many because of his defence of civil liberty and his overwhelming charisma. This painting is perhaps a rare depiction of Fox as a young man, on the cusp of adolescence but still very much with an air of child-like innocence.

Reynolds was known to have painted Charles Fox's portrait as an adult in 1783, as well as painting his father Henry Fox and Lady Caroline Fox in 1757.

The work was reframed on the 23rd October 1987 at Colin Denny Ltd Fine Art Dealers in Chelsea, London. There is another receipt possibly related to this painting from July 28th 1987 at Colin Denny Ltd Fine Art Dealers, which states 'reline with wax impregnation, clean and restore'.

Inscription on the back of the stretcher reads: 'Charles James Fox 1747-1806 first son of Henry Fox first Lord Holland by Lady Caroline daughter of 2nd Duke of Richmond. Foreign Secretary 1780 and 1806. This information may have been taken from a label on the original frame before the 1987 re framing.

See the link below for a comparatively young looking Charles James Fox after Reynolds: A mezzotint of a triple portrait with Charles James Fox standing beside Lady Susan Strangways at a corner of Holland House, both three-quarter length, Lady Susan holding dove in her hands; with Lady Sarah Lennox leaning out of window above, towards her.
This print was made by James Watson after a painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1832-1211-77