John Julius Angerstein
- Date
- 1765
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- London, Greater London, England, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- European Art to 1800
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 202
- Dimensions
- 36 1/16 x 28 1/16 in. (91.6 x 71.3 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 107:1922
NOTES
Dressed in 17th-century costume, this middle-aged man rests his left arm on a stone support and gazes off to the viewer’s right. His air of self-assurance establishes him as a person of some influence. Dramatic lighting and rich coloration enhance this effect. By depicting his subject in this outdated attire, artist Sir Joshua Reynolds paid homage to the leading portraitist of the previous century, Anthony van Dyck.
John Julius Angerstein amassed great wealth through various business interests including the slave trade. This financial success allowed him to assemble a fine art collection. After his death the British government purchased 38 of his paintings, which became the cornerstone of The National Gallery in London. Angerstein was also known for his charitable work and participation in an abolitionist organization.
Provenance
1765/10/07 - 1896
John Julius Angerstein (1735-1823), London, England, purchased from artist; Lt. Gen. Angerstein, by inheritance; Angerstein Family, by inheritance [1]
1896/07/04 -
Lawrie Collection, purchased from Angerstein sale at Christie's, London, July 4, 1898, lot no. 108
by 1900 -
William Beattie, Glasgow, Scotland, purchased from Lawrie Collection
- 1905
Sulley and Co., London, England
1905 - 1909
M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., London, England, purchased from Sulley and Co. [2]
- 1922
J. H. Harding (d.1929) [3]
1922 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from J. H. Harding through M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York, NY, USA
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Mannings catalogue raisonné, cat. no. 63 [Mannings, David. "Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings." New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2000]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] John Julius Angerstein was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and went to England under the patronage of Andress Thompson, a Russian merchant. This painting was completed in England in the summer of 1765. Although Mannings notes the painting was in the Angerstein Collection "by descent" until its sale in 1896, he does not mention any names of heirs. The Saint Louis Art Museum Accession record lists the painting as being in the former collection of Lt. Gen. Angerstein, although the relationship with the sitter is unclear.
[2] According to a letter dated July 18, 1989 from the Getty Art History Information Program, Sulley and Co., sold the painting to M. Knoedler & Co. in 1905. M. Knoedler & Co. then sold the painting to an unknown buyer in 1909.
[3] J. H. Harding is almost certainly J. Horace Harding of New York. Since Mr. Harding bought most of his collection from M. Knoedler & Co., it is possible he was the buyer in 1909 (See note [2]) [SLAM document files].
[4] Invoice from M. Knoedler & Co., dated October 30, 1922 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, October 24, 1922.
John Julius Angerstein (1735-1823), London, England, purchased from artist; Lt. Gen. Angerstein, by inheritance; Angerstein Family, by inheritance [1]
1896/07/04 -
Lawrie Collection, purchased from Angerstein sale at Christie's, London, July 4, 1898, lot no. 108
by 1900 -
William Beattie, Glasgow, Scotland, purchased from Lawrie Collection
- 1905
Sulley and Co., London, England
1905 - 1909
M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., London, England, purchased from Sulley and Co. [2]
- 1922
J. H. Harding (d.1929) [3]
1922 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from J. H. Harding through M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York, NY, USA
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Mannings catalogue raisonné, cat. no. 63 [Mannings, David. "Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings." New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2000]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] John Julius Angerstein was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and went to England under the patronage of Andress Thompson, a Russian merchant. This painting was completed in England in the summer of 1765. Although Mannings notes the painting was in the Angerstein Collection "by descent" until its sale in 1896, he does not mention any names of heirs. The Saint Louis Art Museum Accession record lists the painting as being in the former collection of Lt. Gen. Angerstein, although the relationship with the sitter is unclear.
[2] According to a letter dated July 18, 1989 from the Getty Art History Information Program, Sulley and Co., sold the painting to M. Knoedler & Co. in 1905. M. Knoedler & Co. then sold the painting to an unknown buyer in 1909.
[3] J. H. Harding is almost certainly J. Horace Harding of New York. Since Mr. Harding bought most of his collection from M. Knoedler & Co., it is possible he was the buyer in 1909 (See note [2]) [SLAM document files].
[4] Invoice from M. Knoedler & Co., dated October 30, 1922 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, October 24, 1922.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.