The portrait of James Graham (1761-1824) was painted by Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) when he travelled through Italy with his friend the Rev Thomas Brand in 1783, the same year he was created 1st Baronet Netherby.
Having journeyed through France and Switzerland, he sat for the picture in Rome in December of that year where Kauffman painted him bust-length and in a blue coat. The picture was fairly well known, having featured in various books including, most recently, Jeremy Black’s 2003 publication The British abroad, the Grand Tour in the 18th century.
The 2ft 1in x 18¾in (62 x 48cm) oil on canvas was unlined and estimated at £20,000-30,000 at the Bonhams sale. With its original condition and prime provenance its favour, it was bid up to £91,000.
The price was the second highest at the Bonhams sale where 37 of the 70 lots got away (53%).
The top lot was Head of Christ, on the kerchief of Saint Veronica catalogued as by the studio of El Greco (1541-1614) which surpassed a £10,000-15,000 estimate and was knocked down at £110,000.
