Sir John Conroy, 1st Bt

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on the original backboard, probably in the artist's hand: Alfred Tidey/88 Charlotte Street/Fitzroy Sq^re/1836/Sir John Conroy Bt.

This portraitback to top

According to Dr Stuart Tidey's list, based on his ancestor's diary, this miniature was begun on 13 August 1835, and finished on 22 February 1836. Conroy is wearing the ribbon and star of the Family Order of the Saxon Duchies, the Saxe-Ernestinische Order. [1] Another miniature of Conroy by Tidey was begun on 11 August 1835, but was apparently never finished, presumably because the artist was dissatisfied with it. It was in the collection of Dr Stuart Tidey's sister-in-law in 1932. In 1835 Tidey painted two other miniatures of Conroy (see Dr Stuart Tidey's List, p 6). One was begun on 9 September 1834 and finished on 27 October of the same year, the other was begun on 17 September 1834, and finished on 22 February 1836, the same date as the NPG miniature.

Footnotesback to top

1) I am most grateful to Hugh Murray-Baillie for this information.

Referenceback to top

Foskett 1963
D. Foskett, British Portrait Miniatures (1963), p 179.

Tidey 1924
Dr Stuart Tidey, 'List of Miniatures by Alfred Tidey' (typescript of original MS, 1924, Victoria and Albert Museum Library), p 7, under 1835.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown hair. Dressed in a white shirt, dark stock, scarlet sash with green edge, black coat, and multi-coloured star. Faded purple curtain behind. Rest of background light brown.

Provenanceback to top

The sitter; by descent to his daughter, Victoire Marie-Louise Conroy, who married Sir Edward Hanmer, 4th Bart, 1842; purchased from the Hanmer family, through Messrs Spink & Son, 1927.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1836 (794).


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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