Provenance: London, Noel Desenfans and/or Sir Francis Bourgeois, 1801-1807; London, Skinner and Dyke, Desenfans sale, 17 Mar. 1802, lot 179 ('Sir Fran. Bourgeois-The Funeral Procession of a White Friar'. Descriptive Catalogue, no. 179: 'The composition offers us seventeen figures in a landscape ... Upon a high road, on the fore-ground of the picture, to the right, four children of the choir, are preceding the procession ... dressed in the habits of white friars ... the youngest walks first, and is carrying the incense ... the two who are following, hold each a lighted torch before the crucifix, with which the fourth advances, holding it raised with both hands. A few steps behind them, walks the chorister of the convent, with a book open in his hand, and his eyes raised to heaven, singing ... Immediately after him, are four friars carrying the body of their deceased brother, over whom they have thrown a white cloth ... he is followed by the rest of the community ... On this side of the road, to the left of the picture, are some large trees ... and on the second ground, is a little hill, upon which are seen, towards the centre of the picture, some sheep, watched by a girl and a boy ... by the side of the little hill, a river bordered with trees ... and at a distance some mountains'). Bt in. Handwritten note on RKDH copy of catalogue: '64'. [i.e. 6 x 4]; London, Sir Francis Bourgeois, 1807-1811; Bourgeois Bequest, 1811.