Head study of a bearded man

Whilst the model for this head study is not known for certain, his characterful appearance is not too distant from that of John Staveley, who sat to Wright of Derby on a number of occasions and features in works including The Captive, from Sterne (Vancouver Art Gallery; on permanent loan to the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa). Character studies of this type, taken from life, were frequently practised by both Wright and Sir Joshua Reynolds. The present lot would appear to date to circa 1770-80.