Francis Cotes RA (1726-1770)

Francis Cotes RA (1726-1770)

Portrait of John Parker (1734-1796), half-length, wearing a blue coat and white waistcoat, standing by a column; Portrait of Mary Parker (née Watson), half-length, wearing a white dress, blue shawl and pearl necklace, leaning on a balustrade

A pair, both oil on canvas

90.9 x 71cm; 35¾ x 28in; 90.5 x 71.3cm; 35½ x 28in (2)

Provenance:

Commissioned by John Parker, 1766;

And by descent

Literature:

'Mary Parker' in Edward Meade Johnson, Francis Cotes (Phaidon Press, 1976), p.80, no.187 (whereabouts unknown);

Elaine Barr, 'John Parker, Goldsmith - a Portrait by Francis Cotes', in The Burlington Magazine (June 1979), pp.375-376 & 378, figs.60 & 61

Exhibited:

'Mary Parker' in Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Art Gallery, Pictures from Shropshire Houses, July-September 1951, no.1

John Parker was a noted 18th-century goldsmith, best known for his partnership with Edward Wakelin. The present pair of portraits were painted in 1766, shortly after his marriage to Mary Parker. His personal account in the Garrard Ledgers reveals he paid £31.10s to Francis Cotes in July of that year.

In her article on the present pair, Elaine Barr suggests that there may have been a long-standing professional relationship between Parker and Cotes. Mrs Cotes held an account with Parker and Wakelin, and they certainly provided frames for Francis' brother Samuel's portrait miniatures.