Unknown man, formerly known as James Bruce

This portraitback to top

A very weak picture, acquired as a portrait of the explorer James Bruce. The head bears a remote resemblance to that of Bruce engraved in 1830 by W. C. Edwards after David Martin.

Physical descriptionback to top

Brown eyes, white powdered hair with a black ribbon, gold embroidered waistcoat, maroon coat, finger ring on left hand (a blue and pink stone surrounded by brilliants); the books and globe are not inscribed.

Provenanceback to top

‘From a portion of the family of Bruce’ to a Mr Miller, Edinburgh;¹ his sale, Nisbett, Edinburgh, February 1860, bought Brown & Macindos of Glasgow; E. W. Radclyffe, from whom purchased 1860.

¹ The provenance cited was given to Scharf by Radclyffe in his letter of 23 April 1860, in which he also stated the portrait was by [David] Martin (NPG archive).

Exhibitionsback to top

Second special exhibition of National Portraits (William and Mary to MDCCC), South Kensington, 1867 (802).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for James Bruce