This portrait was part of a pair with a portrait of Christopher Norton by Hamilton. Byres settled in Rome and became one of the most influential figures in the expatriate colony there. Norton helped Byres with his dealing activities and appears in paintings of the Byres family in Rome. Although the Hamilton portrait has been lost, Aberdeen has been fortunate in acquiring this portrait of Norton painted some 20 years previously which was also part of the Byres collection with the Hamilton pair.

Provenance

James Byres of Tonley; by descent; anon sale, Christie's, November 1977.