Thomas Beach (attr), portrait of a gentleman believed to be Sir Henry Bate Dudley (1745 - 1824),...

Thomas Beach (attr), portrait of a gentleman believed to be Sir Henry Bate Dudley (1745 - 1824), depicted bust length facing frontally with white stock and red jacket, oil on canvas, unsigned, 29.5" x 24.5" (75cm x 62cm) in fluted gilt frame (canvas re-lined). Inscribed to rear of frame "Portrait of Sir Henry Dudley". Provenance; acquired be the current owner in the early 1970's. Sold with extensive background literature including a letter from the Editor of Burke's Peerage dated 1970 stating "The person in your portrait is presumably Sir Henry Bate Dudley, who was created a Baronet on 1813. He assumed the surname of Dudley in compliance with the will of a relative" and a letter from Country Life dated 1970 with a response from 'an authority on 18th century portraits' who comments "One would agree that comparison with the well known full length portrait by Gainsborough, painted in 1785 - 86, seems to confirm that this could be a portrait of Sir Henry Bate Dudley...journalist, parson and country gentleman...a prominent figure in late 18th century society and his home at Bradwell Lodge, Essex was a meeting place for artists and politicians of the day"