English: Ramsay Richard Reinagle, R.A. (1775-1862)

Portrait of Francis North, 4th Earl of Guilford (1761-1817), three-quarter-length, in academic robes

with the artist's label, signed N3 R.R.Reinagle (on an old label on the stretcher) and inscribed Francis 4th Earl of Guilford (on the reverse of the canvas)

oil on canvas, unlined

44¼ x 35 in. (112.2 x 88.8 cm.)

The sitter was the second son of Frederick, 2nd Earl of Guilford, and 8th Lord North, Prime Minister (for his portrait after Nathaniel Dance, see lot 60). Francis' mother, Anne, was painted by Allan Ramsay, and a family portrait by an unidentified 18th Century artist (lot 61) depicts the 2nd Earl and Countess with a child, possibly their elder son, George Augustus, who became the 3rd Earl. Francis succeeded his brother as 4th Earl of Guilford in 1802, and died without issue in 1817.

Francis was painted as a young man by Romney, in 1780 (lost), and later by Sir Thomas Lawrence circa 1805-10 (ex Henry North, 3rd Earl of Sheffield; sold Christie's, London, 11 December 1909, lot 103).

Son of the successful sporting artist, Philip Reinagle, Ramsay Richard Reinagle was born in London in 1775. He was a precocious artistic talent, and aged 13 in 1788 his first work was exhibited at the Royal Academy. He went on to establish a successful portrait practice to the elite.