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Description: Group Portrait of John, Theophilus and Frances Levett, full-length, the younger two seated on a donkey, in a wooded landscape signed and dated 'James Ward RA/Nov 1811-' (lower left) oil on canvas 36 x 28 in. (91.5 x 71.1 cm.) in a carved and gilded 18th century English frame LITERATURE J. Frankau, William Ward A.R.A. James Ward R.A. Their Lives and Works, London, 1909, p. 51. C.R. Grundy, James Ward, R.A. His Life and Works, London, 1909, p. 51. O. Beckett, The Life and Work of James Ward, R.A. 1769-1859: The Forgotten Genius, Lewes, Sussex, 1995, p. 52. EXHIBITION London, Royal Academy, 1812, no. 118, as 'Portraits of Children'. London, Tate Gallery, James Ward 1769-1859, 1960, no. 15, lent by M. Bernard. NOTES The present portrait was painted in November 1811, for the Reverend Theophilus Levett (d. 1839), depicting his children John, Theophilus (the second son) and Frances (the eldest daughter), for the sum of 100 guineas. Ward painted a number of portraits of and for the Levett family, including Rev.T. Lovett [sic] and favourite dogs; Cock shooting, Royal Academy 1811, no. 489; John Levett receiving a Pheasant from his Retriever on his Estate at Wychnor signed and dated 1812 (Christie's, London, 14 July 1994, lot 59, sold œ78,000); Portraits of Banker, a favourite hunter, twenty-five years old, and Victory, a foxhound of Lord Vernon's pack, the property of T. Lovett [sic], Royal Academy 1812, no. 100; and John Levett hunting in the Park of Wychnor, Staffordshire, signed and dated 1817, Royal Academy 1818, no. 154.