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A pair of charming portraits of a flower girl and watercress girl by Johann Joseph Zoffany (1733-1810) star in Bonhams Old Master Paintings sale on December 4. Sold as companion pieces, the works have an estimate of £300,000-500,000.
Johann Zoffany is known primarily as a painter of portraits, conversation pieces and theatrical subjects. A German neoclassical artist, he was active mainly in England, Italy and India. His father was a master craftsman, and he was brought up at the court of Alexander Ferdinand, Prince von Thurn und Taxis where he absorbed both a classical education and the manners of a courtier.
Zoffany arrived in England around 1760, and it was the patronage of the actor-manager David Garrick that launched his career in England. Garrick was delighted by Zoffany’s ability to capture the dramatic effects and fleeting details of a theatrical performance and in 1762 commissioned Zoffany to paint four conversation pieces of the Garrick household, which brought the artist to the attention of the public and, more importantly, Queen Charlotte, who along with George III became a significant patron, securing his commercial and financial success.
The Watercress Girl was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1780, the same year that Zoffany also exhibited the Tribuna, now in the Royal Collection and one of the most celebrated paintings of 18th century taste. It was the first time the Royal Academy show had been held in a purpose-built space, its new home in William Chambers’ Somerset House. A reviewer of the day said, ‘The artist has been very fortunate in a choice of a most beautiful girl for his subject and he has copied nature so exactly, that it is not easy to determine whether it is real life painting or not.’ Zoffany’s model for the painting was a young girl called Jane Wallis.
It was around this time (1785) that the engraver, John Young, scraped his mezzotints of the two portraits. The original paintings were in the collection of the MP Jacob Wilkinson, a Director of the East India Company, and a champion of Zoffany’s work. Importantly, he supported Zoffany’s request to the East India Company to travel to India. Wilkinson’s portrait by Zofffany hangs at Chequers, the official second home of the serving prime minister.
Lisa Greaves, Head of Bonhams’ Old Master Paintings Department, commented: “These exquisite portraits have been in a private family collection since the 19th century and are in remarkable condition. Zoffany was a master portrait painter; his sitters are full of expression and character and his work is often rich in decorative detail. He was one of the first Royal Academicians, nominated by his friend and patron George III and enjoyed court patronage throughout his career. We are delighted to be offering these exceptional works and expect significant interest.”
Zoffany’s work appears in many prominent collections, including the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery and the Royal Collection, as well as institutions in continental Europe, India, the United States and Australia.
