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J. BEST. 



(Born circa 1750.) 



J BEST, though not one of the most notable 

 • artists of his time, is entitled to mention as 

 the painter of several pictures of animal life and 

 sporting subjects which secured the attention 

 of contemporary judges. He was born about the 

 year 1750, but we can ascertain nothing concerning 

 his parentage and circumstances. It is known that 

 he employed much of his time in copying the 

 works of other artists, and we find our starting 

 point in his artistic career while he was yet a 

 copyist. There is in the Elsenham collection a 

 large painting — 60 inches by 39 inches — which 

 was sold at Christie's twenty years ago under the 

 belief that it was by George Stubbs, R.A. ; it is 

 entitled " The Waldegrave Family," and contains 

 portraits of Lord and Lady Melbourne, Sir Ralph 

 Milbanke, and Mr. John Milbanke. The lady is 

 seated in a low park j^ony-carriage drawn by a 

 white pony, and Lord Melbourne stands by its 

 side. The execution of the work quite justified 

 the belief that Stubbs was the artist ; but during 

 the process of re-varnishing, "J. Best, 1770," was 

 discovered lurking modestly in the right-hand 

 corner. It is an excellent copy of the original 



