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Provenance

Painted for John Johnstone [1734-1795], Alva House, Clackmannanshire, fourth son of Sir James Johnstone, 3rd Bt., of Westerhall; by descent to his great-grandson, Major James Johnstone [1865-1906], Hangingshaw, Selkirk; (sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 26 May 1906, no. 92); purchased by Wood. Mrs. P. Nelke; sold to (Lewis & Simmons, Paris); purchased July 1928 by Mr. [d. 1935] and Mrs. [d. 1945] Robert W. Schuette, New York;[1] bequest 1945 to NGA.

Exhibition History

1933
Catalogue of a Century of Progress Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture. The Art Institute of Chicago, 1933, no. 201, repro.
1938
A Survey of British Painting, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, 1938, no. 37, repro.
1940
Masterpieces of Art. European & American Paintings 1500-1900, New York World's Fair, 1940, no. 146, repro.
1997
Raeburn: The Art of Sir Henry Raeburn 1756-1823, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh; National Portrait Gallery, London, 1997-1998, no. 23, repro., as John Johnstone of Alva 1734-95, Betty Johnstone and Miss Wedderburn.

Technical Summary

The medium-weight canvas is twill woven; it has been lined. The ground is white, thinly and evenly applied. The painting is broadly executed, mostly in thin layers, but with several areas of low impasto. The painting is in good condition except for numerous small areas of discolored overpaint scattered throughout. The thinly applied natural resin varnish has discolored yellow to a significant degree.

Bibliography

1901
Armstrong, Sir Walter. Sir Henry Raeburn. London, 1901: 106.
1911
Greig, James. Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A.: His Life and Works. London, 1911: 50.
1965
Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 106, as David Johnstone of Alva, His Sister and His Niece.
1968
National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 94, repro., as David Johnstone of Alva, His Sister and His Niece.
1975
European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 278, repro., as David Johnstone of Alva, His Sister and His Niece.
1975
Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. New York, 1975: no. 525, color repro.
1984
Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 368, no. 519, color repro., as John Johnstone of Alva, His Sister, and His Niece.
1985
European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 323, repro.
1992
Hayes, John. British Paintings of the Sixteenth through Nineteenth Centuries. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1992: 194-196, repro. 195.
1997
Thomson, Duncan. Raeburn: The Art of Sir Henry Raeburn 1756-1823, Exh. cat. Scottish National Portrait Gallery at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh; National Portrait Gallery, London, 1997-1998, p. 99, no. 23, repro.
2004
Hand, John Oliver. National Gallery of Art: Master Paintings from the Collection. Washington and New York, 2004: 277, no. 223, color repro.

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