Thomas Gainsborough, R.A. (Sudbury, Suffolk 1727-1788 London)

The present drawing was once in a sketchbook. Several of these books appeared as lots numbered 81-84 and 86-88 in a Christie's sale of 11 May 1799, consigned by Margaret Gainsborough, the artist's daughter, following the death of her mother in 1798. One sketchbook (lot 85) was subsequently bequeathed to the British Museum by Richard Payne Knight. Three were purchased by George Hibbert and later appeared in the Mrs A.H. Holland-Hibbert sale at Christie's on 30 June 1913; three other books were bought by a Mr Pugh and one by Colnaghi. The present sheet is the same size as several of the Hibbert drawings and is almost certainly a page from one of the books originally sold as lot 82, 84 or 88 in 1799.