George Payne Rainsford James

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in the artist's hand on a label, formerly on the back of the picture: Painted in 1846, by Stephen Pearce,/when he was Amanuensis to Charles Lever,/(Harry Lorrequer) and Tutor to his Children;/Charles Lever, & G.P.R. James were then re-/siding at Carlsruhe./Miniature in Oil Colors.
Inscribed on another label, also in the artist's hand, are various biographical details.

This portraitback to top

In a letter of 5 May 1900 (NPG archives), the artist wrote: 'I am glad you like the little portrait of C. P. R. James - I hope you will hang it in a good side light, about 5 feet 4 inches from the floor.' The artist also told Gust that he had executed an oil portrait of Lever, in 1844, then in the collection of the Rev John Lever, his brother; a chalk drawing of Lever of 1849 is in the National Gallery of Ireland, reproduced S. Pearce, Memories of the Past, facing p 28.

Referenceback to top

Pearce 1903
Stephen Pearce, Memories of the Past (1903), p 40.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. Dressed in a white shirt, dark stock, and dark grey coat. Seated in a wooden armchair with dark red covering, and reading a book on a brown wooden table, with a red leather(?) top. On the table are a silver candlestick, a dark wooden(?) ink-stand, and a green leather book. A brown leather book leans against the chair. In the background on the left are bookshelves with brown leather-bound books. At the right there is a thin strip of green, possibly a door or window.

Provenanceback to top

The artist, presented by him, 1900.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, 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.

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