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Sir James Cosmo Melvill

2 of 3 portraits by John James Napier

Sir James Cosmo Melvill, by John James Napier, exhibited 1858 -NPG 4825 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Sir James Cosmo Melvill

by John James Napier
exhibited 1858
49 7/8 in. x 40 1/8 in. (1267 mm x 1019 mm)
NPG 4825

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in ink in the artist's hand on a faded label on the back of the frame, evidently referring to the RA exhibition: No 4/Sir James Melvill K. C. B./late Secretary to the Honorable East India Company/by John J. Napier

This portraitback to top

The painting remains at present in an unrestored condition. The document held by the sitter bears a few illegible marks that might be intended for an inscription: 'Mr ... [?]/III’. A companion portrait of Melvill's wife was presented at the same time (NPG 4825a). Apart from a painting by E. U. Eddis, exhibited SKM, 1868 (448), no other portraits of Melvill are recorded.

Physical descriptionback to top

Brown eyes, grey hair and whiskers. Dressed in a black neck-tie, white shirt, black waistcoat and suit, holding a white document. Seated in a brown wooden and red-covered armchair. Background colour very dark brown.

Provenanceback to top

By descent to the sitter's great great-grandson, Cot M. E. Melvill, and presented by him, 1970.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1858 (451).


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.