Lot 43: Alexander Gallaway (Scottish, active circa 1794-1812) Mrs Mary Robertson, wearing white dress with frill edged gauze fill-in, gold ribbon waistband, gold lined blue cloak over her left shoulder and white lace bonnet held under her chin, interior with

Mrs Mary Robertson, wearing white dress with frill edged gauze fill-in, gold ribbon waistband, gold lined blue cloak over her left shoulder and white lace bonnet held under her chin, interior with pillar background.
Signed on the reverse and dated A. Gallaway/ pinxt/ 1809/ Edin. 6 Jaυs Square, gold frame, engraved on the reverse A. Gallaway/ pinxit/ Edinburgh 1809.
Oval, 76mm (3in) high
Provenance: Christie's, 7 November, 1988, lot 118
Exhibited: Raeburn's Rival: Archibald Skirving 1749-1819, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 22 January - 5 April 1999, no.129
Portrait Miniatures from the Merchiston Collection, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 23 September – 11 December 2005, no.44
Literature: Stephen Lloyd, Exhibition Catalogue, 1999, p.71-2
Stephen Lloyd, Exhibition Catalogue, 2005, p.46-7 and 69, ill.col.pl.16

Mary's sister-in-law Elizabeth Robertson, a musician married the actor Matthew Sully, older brother of the American miniaturist Thomas Sully.