London, Royal Academy, 1869, no.315

Inventory of the Property of Oswald A. Smith at 73 Eaton Square, 1890, probably 'Dining Room / Portrait of Mr O. A. Smith';
Inventory of the Property of Guy O. Smith at 33 Grosvenor Street, 1904, Dining Room / Oil painting portrait O. A. Smith. Richmond';
Inventory of the Property of Guy O. Smith at 19 Hill Street, 1927, 'The Dining Room / George Richmond R.A. / Portait of Oswald Smith Esq., 37in. x 27½in.';
Inventory of the Property of Rose O. Smith at 25 Chesham Place, 1931, 'Main Hall /Oil Painting: Mr Oswald Smith by Richmond 37 by 28'

The panel appears to be in sound stable condition. Slightly bowed in the upper right and lower land hand quadrants. There is a fine vertical crack approx 6cm in length extending from the upper centre edge. Some specks of surface dirt. Otherwise the work appears to be in good condition. UV light inspection reveals an area of retouching to aforementioned crack. A minor speck of retouching to the sitter's forehead. Some spots of retouching in the centre left background. Some possible retouching around the sitter's right hand and wrist. More accurate reading is obscured by a heavy layer of opaque varnish. Held in a decorative gilt frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Preparatory sketches for this portrait were begun on 6 February 1869, when Oswald Smith wrote in his diary (Private family archive); 'After  breakfast I walked across the Park To Richmond's and was there till one. He made a sketch of me. I enjoyed my sitting very much. R. is most cultivated, intelligent and pleasant and full of anecdote of the great people (in every great sense) that he has known - Faraday, Lyndhurst, Gladstone etc. and arranged a sitting for tomorrow with Richmond...' The portrait progressed on Shrove Tuesday 9 February; '... By 10 at Richmond's after a pleasant breezy walk across the Park. He began a new sketch of me today in another "pose", which seemed to satisfy him better. I remained until 12.' There was another morning sitting at Richmond's but the weather was 'Dismal, dark and rainy' which was not ideal for an artist but on 13 February his diary reads; 'A most brilliant morning. I went to Richmond's at 11 for my third sitting this week and came home to lunch at 2.' With two more half-day sittings the portrait was almost complete which is fortunate as Smith was beginning to tire or bore of the experience; '... I had a long sitting of over 3 hours, but which luckily proved almost the final one. He showed me the portrait today - certainly seems a great success. He likes it immensely himself, and thinks that it and his likeness of Dr. Watson are the two best things he has done.' On Saturday 22 March, Smith recorded; 'I walked up to Richmond's by 10 o'clock, and had my last sitting.' The last mention of the portrait was on 23 September; 'I had my picture hung this morning.'