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This was purchased from America, but is an English "revival miniature" of c.1900-20. The vendor description had recorded a mistaken belief it was either on hand-painted on paper or a lithograph, and it was offered as unsigned, although the vendor did note a date of 1918. ds 1533
Although difficult to see, it appeared to be signed and then dated 1918 at lower left, almost under the frame. It is a little above average size for a miniature, with sight size of 130mm x 100mm, and when it arrived, it was possible to confirm it was painted, and was signed "Annie G Fletcher RMS 1918".
Researching her, established she was a member of the Royal Miniature Society, and Foskett records;
Fletcher, Miss Annie G[ertrude?] (Mrs E.J.Houle (fl.1895-1914) Exhibited at the R.A.1805-1914, from various London addresses. Painted miniatures and portraits in oil. Exhibits included a portrait in oil of the late General Sir Michael Biddulph G.C.B., R.A., Black Rod; Mrs Mullens; and Miss Hilda Marion, and Arnold, children of W. Wolfe Fletcher Esq.
The 1918 date is thus, slightly later than the biographical dates earlier ascribed to her. In its Archieve Collection, the RMS lists, A School Girl by Mrs Annie G Houle 1896 nee Annie Fletcher,
A School Girl by Mrs Annie G Houle 1896 nee Annie Fletcher
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An interesting group of British miniatures was acquired as a single lot. ds 1539 a, b, c. Although, not as a deliberate policy, this collection includes miniature portraits of multiple members of British royalty. However, one gap was King George V and Queen Mary. Thus acquisition of this lot helped fill a "gap".
The portrait of King George V is well painted, as is that of Queen Mary wearing her robes for the 21 June, 1911 coronation of George V..
In 1914, to show support for the troops fighting in Europe, George V was photographed in military uniform and sent, along with a message to the troops. The miniature here is very similar, but with one notable difference. In the official portrait he is not wearing a great-coat, whereas he is wearing a greatcoat in the miniature.
The miniature is unsigned, but of excellent quality, by a good artist, so one wonders why it is different? So far, no other source image or miniature, has been noted of George V wearing a greatcoat.
The miniature of Queen Mary shows her at the time of receiving her crown, as in an image of the time;
The miniature of Victoria and Albert is by an amateur hand, but despite that, with quite good detail.
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This next miniature was purchased from California in America, and appears to be 1820-40 American in style, and by the metal bezel casework, being is in a typical, period, ebonised rectangular frame.. It has been listed under British, but does not seem to fit the usual style of British 19C miniatures, where the backgrounds were generally lighter, and tend to lack the rectangular ormolu bezel; so prevalent in American miniatures. ds 1535
The sitter has a kindly facial appearance, and Anson Dickinson seems a possible artist, However, there is an advertisement on the rear from London, which may be later packing. There are also reflections which confuse the detail. The packing has a date at the top of 1828, which has been hand altered to 1829. Such a date would fit with Anson Dickinson (1779-1952)..
It also seems possible the miniature was originally housed in a red leather case. Such cases often disintegrated over time, and a portrait would then need rehousing. In this instance, that might explain the original bezel being transferred, in around 1800, to a new ebonised frame, perhaps with new "period", packing on the reverse.
The advertisement refers to the General Annuity Society, an early insurance company, and appears to be soliciting donations from subscribers to that society on behalf of John Ariell who, "having carried on the Business of a grocer for 24 years at... street, Fitzroy Square" is in failing health. So far no other reference to him has been noted.
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The next miniature, ds 1563, image size 92mm x 72mm, was described by the vendor as;
"QUALITY ANTIQUE MINIATURE PAINTING
British Noble Portrait - Later Georgian Era - 18th Century
Charming painting, a very attractive antique work of a Gentleman sporting the Order of the Garter on his coat. - Age- Late 18th Century - Medium- Watercolour & gouache on paper. Size- 4.5 by 4 inches approx including frame. - Signature- Appears unsigned.
Condition- Generally good though some browning and thinner paint areas to the background. A good deal of concave curvature to the card panel. Frame- Antique glazed wooden frame, some light marks, offered free with the painting. "
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| Admiral Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840) |
However, extensive Internet searches have since revealed his identity as Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764-1840), more usually referred to as Sir Sidney Smith. He was promoted to full Admiral in July 1821, around the time of his retirement.
The vendor description errs in referring to the Order of the Garter. This proved to be an initial red-herring, but after some searching the actual award was revealed as the Order of the Bath. Only in July 1838, at the age of 74 and two years before his death, had he received via a letter from Lord Minto, advising the conferring upon him of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath – so at last he was an English knight!
To date, it has not been possible to identify any original portrait, which the miniature may have been copied from. In the absence of any other apparent original, it is believed this miniature is actually a previously unrecorded original portrait of Sidney Smith, likely painted in Paris by an unknown artist.
There are many portraits of Sir Sidney Smith available on the Internet which support this miniature as being of him. In fact there may be even more portraits than of Lord Nelson (1758-1805); as Sir Sidney Smith lived for 35 years after the death of Nelson. Sidney Smith wore a fashionable wig as a younger man, but portraits of him in early 19C do not show a wig. It was probably to conceal his lack of hair, that he reverted to wearing a wig in 1838.
Sidney Smith expended much of his own money on Royal Navy service, but was unsuccessful in gaining recompense from the Government. As a result he was short of money in his retirement, and that this miniatures was painted on card, rather than ivory, seems to imply he could not afford to engage a recognised artist to paint his 1838 portrait. Another factor in seeking an artist, was that he lived in Paris when France was experiencing relative political stability under the July Monarchy (ruled by King Louis-Philippe), an era that bridged the July Revolution of 1830 and the French Revolution of 1848. Smith lived in Paris during the many years of his retirement, where he died in May 1840 and was buried in a simple grave in the Père Lachaise cemetery.
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| Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840) |
A confessed surprise, was in undertaking an image search for him, and finding there was already a portrait of him in this Artists and Ancestors collection. It was acquired as a part lot, along with another pressed metal miniature
"ds
1505 This better quality pressed metal portrait came from the same
source. It appears to be gilded brass and is a portrait of Sir Sidney
Smith. An extensive account of his life is at Sidney Smith (Royal Navy officer) - Wikipedia, the free ... There it is noted,
Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith, KCB,
GCTE, KmstkSO, FRS (21 June 1764 – 26 May 1840) was a British naval
officer. Serving in the American and French revolutionary wars, he later
rose to the rank of admiral. Napoleon Bonaparte, reminiscing later in
his life, said of him: "That man made me miss my destiny".
He was also active against the slave trade.
Some interpretive explanation is necessary to explain the uniform he wears in the miniature. As he was only awarded the Order of the Bath in 1838, that he is wearing the Order, implies the miniature was painted at his request, around July 1838, and shortly before his 1840 death.
Epaulettes were added to the Royal Navy uniform from 1795. He seems, in the miniature, to be wearing a uniform from 1787-95. without an epaulette, and posed in a uniform which emphasises the three gold stripes on his blue cuff, and three gold buttons. Hence, Sir Sidney Smith may have sought to refer to his long navy service, from 1777, i.e. long before 1800, and perhaps even as a gentle rebuke to the Navy, for his (believed) late, 1821, elevation to the rank of Admiral.
Alternatively the lack of an epaulette, may merely signify he was no longer in active service in 1838.
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| Admiral Sir Sidney Smith (1764-1840) |
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Smith was a prolific writer of letters on naval business, and others recounting his naval exploits, which give a good indication of his life and character.
An interesting and unexpected incident, was when he was suspected of having a liaison, described as "The Delicate Investigation, with Princess Augusta, wife of the Prince of Wales. However, as a result of the investigation, there was not found to be any truth in the salacious allegations.
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