John Wootton British, 1686-1764
Provenance
(Presumably) commissioned by John Shafto, and by descent to R. D. Shafto; Christie’s, London, 22 November 1985, lot 7 (£4320).
with Arthur Ackermann & Son, London.
with Lane Fine Art, London, 1987.
Anonymous sale; Christie’s, London, 23 November 2005, lot 50 (£48000).
The Shafto family originated from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living at Bavington Hall, Capheaton, where they had settled as early as 1304. In 1652 they also acquired the Whitworth Estate near Spennymoor in Northumberland and this became their principal house until it was sold in 1981. John Shafto (d. 1742), was MP for the County of Durham, as was his son, Robert Shafto (c.1732–1797), immortalised in the famous northern song, Bonny Bobby Shafto, infamously used as an election ditty.
This picture was presumably commissioned from the artist by John Shafto. It seems he patronised Wootton on a number of occasions; A Welsh springer spaniel and An English springer spaniel by Wootton were sold by R. D. Shafto of Bavington Hall at Christie's on 11 November, 1994, lots 45 and 46.