Thomas Ross (active Circa.1730-1757). British School 18th.Century. A sheet of figure studies, pen and grey ink with monochrome wash over traces of pencil, on laid paper with partial Britannia watermark, sheet 18.5 by 15 cms. 30.5 by 26.5 cms framed overall.
According to an old inscription this work has traditionally been understood to be an original sheet of drawings by William Hogarth (1697-1764).
Works by Ross are exceptionally rare. Ross was a portrait, landscape and decorative painter, recorded as working in Suffolk in 1730 and may have been based in Gloucester before that date. Most of his known works are head and shoulders portraits, painted within a feigned oval. A portrait of poet and landscape gardener William Shenstone (1714-1763) by the artist is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London. Ross’s landscape works often populated with figures such as these were engraved by Philipp Audinet (1766-1837) and J. Hall.