Lot 115: Robert Healy (fl.1765-1771)

Portrait of Sir Charlton Leighton (1715-1784), half-length
signed and dated 'R t Healy./1766' (lower left), and with inscription 'Portrait in crayons by R. Healy 1766/of Sir Charlton Leighton of Loton/Park, Co. Salop 4 t h Baronet/(Sir Charlton Leighton) was born 1747/& died unmarr. Dec. 1784, & was succeeded/by his Brother Sir Robert.' (on an old label attached to the back of the frame)
black, white and coloured chalk, oval
19 1/4 x 16 in. (48.9 x 40.6 cm.)

By descent in the Leighton family until
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 15 July 1999, lot 123.

Sir Charles Leighton was Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury 1780-1784 and died ummarried on 9 Sept 1784. He succeeded his father Sir Charles Leighton 3rd Bt. Major of Marines and Colonel in the Shropshire Militia, who was High Sheriff of Shropshire from 1749-50. He married firstly Anna Maria, daughter of Richard Mytton of Halston, Shropshire, and secondly Emma, daughter of Sir Robert Maude. The family seat of Loton Park is situated in the village of Alberbury, Shropshire.

Robert Healy was a pupil of Robert West (d.1770), the first master of the Dublin Society Schools. The use of grisaille, as in the present drawing, was popular in the Society Schools and both Hugh Douglas Hamilton and Thomas Hickey worked in this medium early in their careers. Healy's working career was short, lasting only from circa 1765, when he was a student, to 1771 when he died young.

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