Lot 105: f - William Russell Birch 1755-1834 , The Young Shepherdess enamel

signed ( verso ): Painted from a Picture of / Sir J. Reynolds's by / W/ Birch / 1782 enamel

11 by 10 cm., 4 1/2 by 4 in.

After the painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., (1723-1792) The Young Shepherdess Resting on a Wooden Fence, with her flock before her (see D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, A complete catalogue of his Painting, 2000, nos. 2162-3, pls. 1700-1701). Interestingly the composition was not engraved by Grozer until 1784 so it is probable that Birch worked directly from the original painting.

Birch exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1794, and is recorded as having executed other enamel miniatures after the works of Reynolds. Following his last exhibition at the Royal Academy he travelled to America and settled in Philadephia where he died in 1834.