Beschreibung:

George Inness "Pastoral Landscape" oil on canvas,
on linen canvas, 1772. Signed and dated lower right, "D. Martin '72". Canvas: 50"H x 40"W; Frame: 59.875"H x 49.875"W. PROVENANCE: John Sargent, London, England, 1772 (acquired directly from the artist). Mrs. Larpent and her son, George Larpent, London, England, c. 1791. Robert Aitchison Alexander, Airdrie, Scotland, 1850. Mary Belle Deedes (sister of above), Chichester, Sussex, England, 1867. Alexander John Aitchison Alexander (nephew of above), Midway, Kentucky, 1912. Dr. Alexander John Alexander (son of above), Lexington, Kentucky, 1929. Daughter of Dr. Alexander John Alexander 1969. Sotheby's New York: December 1, 1999 (Lot 00120). From the Collection of Sam Wyly, Dallas, Texas. LITERATURE: Charles Coleman Sellers, "Benjamin Franklin in Portraiture," New Haven, 1962, pp. 333-34, illustrated p. 8. William Kloss et al., eds., "Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride," Washington, D.C., 1992, p. 56 (illustration of another example). NOTE: During a restoration conducted in 2000, the canvas was removed from the Masonite and backed with a heavy weight linen. David Martin painted three copies of this portrait of Benjamin Franklin one of which hangs in the Green Room in the White House and the other in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Martin was commissioned by Robert Alexander of William Alexander & Sons, to paint the first portrait of Benjamin Franklin as a tribute to Franklin's favorable siding with Alexander during a property dispute. Often referred to as the "thumb portrait," Franklin is depicted deep in thought with his thumb resting on his chin, studying one of Alexander's deeds while nestled amongst his books and overlooked by a bust of Isaac Newton. Quite pleased with this portrait, Franklin then commissioned David Martin to create a copy of the work for his own collection. Immediately upon recreating this portrait, Martin created a third and final copy which is illustrated here. Although he completed this work in 1767, he did not sign or date the third copy until 1772, when he sold it to Franklin's close friend, John Sargent. The painting was passed down from generation to generation, remaining in the Alexander family for 149 years. David Martin (British, 1736-1798). Please note: We will not be accepting bids on this lot via internet bidding. Please contact the gallery to register for bidding.