François-Xavier Vispré

Probably by descent within the Nevill family;

John Nevill, 5^th Marquess of Abergavenny (1914-2000);

by family descent to the present owner 

N. Jeffares, Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, on-line edition. J. 763.127

This pastel, which dates to circa 1780, is a rare survival by Francois-Xavier Vispré, a Frenchman who was born in north-eastern France (Voisey) but who, by the middle 1750s, was living and working in London. A versatile artist, he created mezzotint engravings, oil paintings, watercolours and pastels in the same vein as Jean-Étienne Liotard.¹ He exhibited at the Society of Artists, London between 1760 and 1783 and regularly served as a Director their until 1790.

The identity of the sitter in the present portrait is uncertain but, given that it has descended within the collections of the Marquesses of Abergavenny, the boy may be a member of the ancient Nevill family.

We are grateful to Neil Jeffares for his help when cataloguing this lot.