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James Macpherson

2 of 4 portraits of James Macpherson

James Macpherson, by George Romney, 1779-1780 -NPG 5804 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue

James Macpherson

by George Romney
1779-1780
29 7/8 in. x 24 3/4 in. (759 mm x 630 mm)
NPG 5804

Inscriptionback to top

Original canvas inscribed verso: J Maxton Graham Cultoquhey Portrait of James McPherson Esq Romney.

This portraitback to top

Richard Sullivan, who paid Romney 18gn. for NPG 5804 in 1784, had published An Analysis of the Political History of India in 1779, the year Macpherson published his History of the East India Company. Macpherson’s sittings to Romney in August 1779 and January and February 1780 possibly included a second portrait.

Referenceback to top

Ward & Roberts 1904
H. Ward & W. Roberts, Romney, A Biographical and Critical Essay with a Catalogue Rainsonné of his Works, 1904, II, p 99.

Physical descriptionback to top

Blue-grey eyes, white powdered hair, wearing a red silk gown with black fur trim.

Provenanceback to top

Painted for Sir Richard Sullivan (d. 1806), 1st Bt of Ember Court, Thames Ditton; his son Sir Charles Sullivan, 3rd Bt; sold Christie’s, 15 June 1859, lot 28,1 bought Graves for James Maxton Graham;2 by descent to R. Maxton Graham; sold Sotheby’s, 21 March 1979, lot 93, bought Agnew, from whom purchased 1985.

1 Label formerly on the stretcher: James Macpherson Esq/The Translator of Ossian/Painted by Romney/This Picture was painted/for Sir Richard Sullivan Bart./and sold with his Collection/of Pictures by his son/Sir Ch Sullivan Bt/by Christie & Manson in/1859. It was sketched by Scharf at Ember Court, 28 May 1858 (Sir George Scharf's Sketch Books, 51/49a).
2 Whose name is inscribed on the verso of the original canvas; Graham acquired the portrait since his relative, Lord Lynedoch had been the pupil of Macpherson (H. Ward & W. Roberts, Romney, A Biographical and Critical Essay with a Catalogue Rainsonné of his Works, 1904, II, p 99).

Exhibitionsback to top

Second special exhibition of National Portraits (William and Mary to MDCCC), South Kensington, 1867 (775); Scottish Portrait, Edinburgh, 1884 (320); The Portrait Surveyed, Agnew, 1980 (33); Romantic Icons, Dove Cottage, the Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere, 1999 (10).

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