possibly by descent to his son, also John Singleton Copley, Lord Lyndhurst (1772-1863); possibly his estate sale, Christie's (London), 5 March 1864, lot 71 [purchased by Cox(?) - a dealer?]; D. Farr, Philadelphia; purchased from him by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952) October 1923 (with 5 other Copley drawings for a total of £64); Witt Bequest 1952 No Witt card for this drawing, but that was often the case when Witt made multiple purchases at a single source and detailed that purchase on other cards, as he did on RW.230 and 295, so it seems likely that this drawing was part of that purchase of 5 Copley drawings. Lyndhurst had a sale at Christie's on 26-27 February 1864, where only 1 drawing is described as a study for the Death of Major Peirson, lot 666, which has been identified as D.1952.RW.553. In Lyndhurst's 5 March 1864 sale, only 1 drawing is described as a sketch for this subject, lot 71. The name of the purchaser of that lot appears to be 'Cox', likely a dealer, as the same name appears further down in the catalogue, next to lot 84, Copley's painting of 'Saul reproved by Samuel'. This painting is now in the MFA, Boston, and according to them, the purchaser at the sale was Martha Babcock Amory (1812-1880), Boston, grandddaughter of the artist, so Cox must have been a dealer acting on her behalf.

John Singleton Copley: American portraits in oil, pastel and miniature. With biographical sketches., Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 01/02/1938-15/03/1938

Prown, Jules David, John Singleton Copley. In England 1774-1815, Washington: National Gallery of Art, 1966
vol. II, p. 380 and 458
Fig. 668

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 13

Watermark: Watermark: unable to check, as paper is too thick to see through with transmitted light.

Inscription: none.

Collector's mark: none.