George Henry Harlow (1787-1819)/Portrait Sketch of John Etherington Welch Rolls/inscribed verso that the sitter is John E W Rolls, circa 1810/oil on panel, oval, 34cm x 27cm/in a fine Florentine type pieced gilt frame/Note: John Etherington Welch Rolls was born on 4th May 1807 and inherited the family estate, The Hendre, near Monmouth in 1837. He became High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1842 and married Elizabeth Mary Long of Preshaw House, Hants whose mother was daughter of the Earl of Northesk. He died in 1870, whereafter his son, John Allan Rolls, created Lord Llangattock in 1892, enlarged the house to its present immense size. His son, Charles Stewart Rolls was the co-founder of Rolls Royce in 1904. A large portrait of John E W Rolls and his sisters was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1815 and recorded in Portraits in Welsh Houses, South Wales 1962, so it is possible this is a study for that larger work.