purchased at auction, in a lot with other works, by Richard Bull (1725-1805); given by him to Horace Walpole (1717-1797), 20 August 1790; Francis Wellesley, Esq.; his sale, Sotheby's (London), 28 June - 2 July 1920, lot 505 as 'A Conversation' [catalogue at V&A not annotated with buyers' names]; Randall Davies (1866-1946); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 11 February 1947, lot 266; purchased there by Colnaghi (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (verso, lower left), 13 March 1950 (£10); Witt Bequest 1952

Cartoonists of the British School, East Kent and Folkestone Arts Centre, Folkestone, UK, 16/03/1968-20/04/1968

Paintings and Drawings by Marcellus Laroon, Tate Gallery, London, 01/07/1967-30/07/1967

Marcellus Laroon, Blairman Gallery, London, 1951

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 31

Raines, Robert, Marcellus Laroon, London and New York, 1967
no. 80
pl. 6

Watermark: Watermarks: Recto, upper centre edge, fragment: upper part of a Strasburg lily. Mount (removed, in portfolio from P&D), centre: Strasburg Lily / 4 / WR (could not find exact match in Churchill or Heawood).

Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

Inscription: Recto: upper right (within drawing, in speech bubble), graphite: "miserable Goths."; upper centre (within drawing, in 2 speech bubbles), graphite, erased and now illegible; lower centre and right edge, graphite, described: "Mat Ashton the Painter at Chester. _ Carigatura"; lower right, graphite, signed: "M. Lar: Ft". Verso: left of centre, graphite: "Bajazett"; lower left corner and again on mount (removed, in portfolio from P&D), verso, lower right, graphite: "e/". Mount (removed, in portfolio from P&D), Recto: lower edge, pen and brown ink: "Mr. Bull found this drawing in a lot bought for him, some little time since - it may possibly be of some use / to Mr.Walpole; - - - tis of none at all to Mr: Bull, nor did he know till yesterday that it was in the Lot / ordered to be bought for him. / Friday 28. 1790."; lower right, graphite, Colnaghi number etc.: "Eng E/-/- / A 14227 5". Mount (removed, in portfolio from P&D), Verso: upper left corner, graphite: "68"; lower right, graphite (also on verso of drawing): "e/".