July 2020
GEORGE ROMNEY
The Lady Hamilton
This picture is of interest because it appears in Christies 27th April 1864 sale in the section headed 'Property of a Gentleman'.
Lot 97; George Romney; 'The Lady Hamilton' Very beautiful; buyer: Anderdon £16/16;
It has been established that Lot 90 is not the oil, 'The Rising Squall...' and so this enquiry is not an essential step in identifying the provenance of that picture. However, Lot 90 is quite likely to be 'The Bristol Watercolour' (previously identified incorrectly as 'The Rising Squall...' ) and this enquiry is therefore untertaken to help reveal the identity of the 'Gentleman'.
References found do not give any indication of ownership before 1864:
Each of the following pictures had references which suggested that they might be Lot 97 but in each case it was established that they were not:
Those below are still under investigation:
2.
Graves "ROMNEY, George"; 1891, June 20; Christie's; lot
125.'Lady Hamilton as a Nun'; Agnew,451,10,0
The catalogue shows the same details.
In the Tabley House Collection 1825 this is No. 47; 30"x25"
Agnew Picture Stock Book page 16 shows the purchase and later sale to
C (or G) Sedelmayer on May 8th 1893
This is unlikely to be the Anderdon purchase and sale because Joan of
Arc was not a nun.
3.
Graves; "ROMNEY, George"; 1896, June 6; Christie's; lot
134; seller: Walter Long; 'Lady Hamilton'; 30"x25"; buyer:
Frickenhaus, 535,10,0
The catalogue adds 'white dress and cap' to the description; possibly
the Anderdon purchase/sale, but unlikely. Based on description and size
this is likely to be No. 25 in Tabley House - 4. below
4.
Dublin
International 1865 page 492 exhibit No. 51; 'Lady Hamilton'; lent by
Lord de Tabley. but it cannot be lent by lord de T because the collection
was sold in 1827 (poss. a later lord de T?)
The Tabley House
Collection 1825 (illustrated) has No.47 (As a Nun) above; No. 66
(Bacchante) 50"x40"; No.25 (Bacchante) 30"x25"; No.18
(as Titania & other figures) 30"x53"; None look like Joan of
Arc
No. 18 - Christies Romney sale 1894-05-24 - catalogue shows lot 189
as the Tabley picture but size 36½"x48½" indicates
that it cannot be.
5.
Shepley Hall 1829 No. 38, page 15; 'Portrait of Lady Hamilton' An
exquisite specimen of the artist, from the collection of Lord de Tabley
Almost certainly No. 25 or No. 66. in
The Tabley House Collection
1825
WORKING ON:
Dublin International 1865...in exhibitions
Tabley 1925...in exhibitions...............& to put these into
the 40_12_list
need a 27th April 1864 summary list to go with the report maybe as a
header