English: Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A.and his studio

Portrait of Sir James Gray (circa 1708-1714), 2nd Baronet, three-quarter length

oil on canvas

50 1/4 x 43 x 1 1/4 inches (canvas)

This portrait portrays the British diplomat, Sir James Gray, leaning against a ledge as he points to the Escorial in the background. The historical residence in the background helped identify the sitter; Sir Gray's first diplomatic position was as ambassador to Spain from 1766 to 1770. The painting was probably done at a later date by Reynolds and his studio. Sir Ellis Kirkham Waterhouse (1905-1985), former director of the National Galleries of Scotland, argued that only the head of the sitter could be attributable to Reynolds. The rest of the composition was probably done by his studio, Waterhouse said. He also suspected that since the ambassador returned from Spain in 1769, and the sitter books Reynolds had of 1769 make no reference to him, the portrait must have been done posthumously. Meanwhile, professor Jason M. Kelly found that the evidence to determine when the painting was made is insufficient, since the artist's sitter books between 1774-1775 are missing, and the portrait could have possibly been done then.