Portrait of a Gentleman
- Date
- c.1750
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- European Art to 1800
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 25 x 30 1/8 in. (63.5 x 76.5 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 73:1945
NOTES
Painters often collaborate, and this painting seems to have been made by two different artists. Thomas Gainsborough was a pupil of Francis Hayman, although it is not known how often they worked together. The subtle lighting and lighter touch that Gainsborough used in the landscape differ from the more deliberate way Hayman depicted light falling on the foreground figure. Although the man’s identity is not known, he probably was among the landed gentry, one of the upper class who made the Grand Tour to Italy to study art and antiquity. The gentleman relaxes, in sharp contrast to the woman laboring to drive the donkey cart behind him.
Provenance
- 1898
William H. Fuller (-1902), New York, NY, USA
1898/02/25
In auction of the collection of William H. Fuller at American Art Association, New York, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9 [1]
1898 - 1932
Mr. Chauncey J. Blair (1843-1916), Chicago, IL, USA, purchased at the sale of the collection of William H. Fuller, American Art Association, New York, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9, and Mrs. Mary Blair (1856-1940), by inheritance [2]
1932/01/15
In auction of “Collection of Exceptional Variety and Quality…the Property of Mrs. Chancey Blair” at the American Art Association, New York, January 15, 1932, lot no. 315
- 1945
John Nicholson, New York, NY, USA
1945 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from John Nicholson [3]
Notes:
[1] See the auction catalog [“Early English and Barbizon Paintings belonging to William H. Fuller to be sold at Chickering Hall,” American Art Association, New York, NY, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9].
[2] See the auction catalog [“Collection of Exceptional Variety and Quality … the Property of Mrs. Chauncey Blair,” American Art Association, New York, January 15, 1932, lot no. 315].
[3] Invoice from John Nicholson, dated May 9, 1945 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Meeting of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, dated May 3, 1945.
William H. Fuller (-1902), New York, NY, USA
1898/02/25
In auction of the collection of William H. Fuller at American Art Association, New York, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9 [1]
1898 - 1932
Mr. Chauncey J. Blair (1843-1916), Chicago, IL, USA, purchased at the sale of the collection of William H. Fuller, American Art Association, New York, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9, and Mrs. Mary Blair (1856-1940), by inheritance [2]
1932/01/15
In auction of “Collection of Exceptional Variety and Quality…the Property of Mrs. Chancey Blair” at the American Art Association, New York, January 15, 1932, lot no. 315
- 1945
John Nicholson, New York, NY, USA
1945 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from John Nicholson [3]
Notes:
[1] See the auction catalog [“Early English and Barbizon Paintings belonging to William H. Fuller to be sold at Chickering Hall,” American Art Association, New York, NY, February 25, 1898, lot no. 9].
[2] See the auction catalog [“Collection of Exceptional Variety and Quality … the Property of Mrs. Chauncey Blair,” American Art Association, New York, January 15, 1932, lot no. 315].
[3] Invoice from John Nicholson, dated May 9, 1945 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Meeting of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, dated May 3, 1945.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.