WILLIAM BISHOP FORD (BRITISH 1832-1922) Portrait miniature of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1771-1832), after the portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn of 1822, wearing a green coat, yellow waistcoat and black stock Signed and dated 1881 on the reverse Enamel on copper Set in the original rectangular fine chased ormolu frame within outer glazed wooden frame with velvet mount Oval, 55mm (2 1/4in) high Provenance: Christie's, 26 November 1986; Comerford Collection Exhibited: The Comerford Collection: Portrait Miniatures, The Irish Architectural Archives, Dublin, 2009 Literature: The Comerford Collection: Portrait.Miniatures, (privately published, Dublin, 2009) pp. 6.,16 (#16) 67 (sitter #2) William Bishop Ford was a specialist painter of miniature enamels, he was a pupil and assistant of William Essex, working and exhibiting prolifically in London.  Scott was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of both English language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Old Mortality, The Lady of the Lake, Waverly, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.  Scott was an advocate, judge and legal administrator by profession, and throughout his career combined his writing  and editing work with his daily occupation as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire.