Oval portrait of James Byres, a native of Aberdeen, who became one of most influential members of the expatriate colony in Rome and did much to determine the course of Grand Tour patronage.

The work retains its original Italian frame. Aberdeen went on to acquire a portrait of Christopher Norton with Art Fund help in 1979. Norton helped Byres with his dealing activities and appears in paintings of the Byres family in Rome.

Provenance

Recorded in the 1790 inventory of Byres's house in Strada Paolina, Rome; by descent through sitter's family; anon sale at Christie's.


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