Watercolour. 9¼ by 5¾ in.
Drawn with a pen and tinted after Rowlandson’s usual manner.
We are fortunate in exhibiting caricatures of auction sales by two
historic firms, both still flourishing. Sotheby’s began in 1744
with Mr. Samuel Baker, who at first held sales in taverns and other
convenient places. In 1754 he established himself at York Street,
Covent Garden, and in 1767 formed a partnership with Mr. J. Leigh.
In 1778 the firm became Leigh and Sotheby. We need only add that in
1804 the business was moved to 145 Strand, and in 1818 to 3 Waterloo
Bridge, re-named 13 Wellington Street, which was given up two years
ago for more commodious quarters in New Bond Street.
By T. ROWLANDSON (1756-1827).
_Lent by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge._