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Portrait of a Man Seated in an Armchair (said to be William Fairlie)
Sir Henry Raeburn (Scottish, 1756–1823)
about 1795
Medium/Technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
127 x 101.6 cm (50 x 40 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of John T. Spaulding
Accession Number48.590
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsPaintings
Unlike his fellow Scot, Allan Ramsay, Sir Henry Raeburn worked exclusively in Scotland. He lacked traditional training in draftsmanship, but his vigorous, sympathetic, and direct portraits are deftly painted with broad and thick brushstrokes. His works often feature seated male sitters.
ProvenanceBy descent within the family of the sitter to Mrs. J. Cunningham; December 1, 1910, sold by Mrs. Cunningham to Thomas Agnew and Sons, London (stock no. 3523) [see note 1]; August 11, 1911, sold by Agnew to Marczell von Nemes (b. 1866 - d. 1930), Budapest and Munich. 1913, acquired by a Mr. Brunner [see note 2]. 1915, Ehrich Galleries, New York [see note 3]. 1916, Doll and Richards, Boston; March 21, 1916, sold by Doll and Richards to John Taylor Spaulding (b. 1870 - d. 1948), Boston; 1948, bequest of John Taylor Spaulding to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 3, 1948)
NOTES:
[1] Sold as a portrait of "Mr. Fairlie of Fairlie."
[2] When John Taylor Spaulding acquired the portrait in 1916, Ehrich Galleries forwarded him a letter (December 20, 1913) from Raeburn scholar James Greig to a Mr. Brunner (no address) congratulating him on his "possession of the portrait of Mr. Fairlie."
[3] Included in the "Exhibition of Paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Raeburn" (Ehrich Galleries, New York, March 22-April 10, 1915).
NOTES:
[1] Sold as a portrait of "Mr. Fairlie of Fairlie."
[2] When John Taylor Spaulding acquired the portrait in 1916, Ehrich Galleries forwarded him a letter (December 20, 1913) from Raeburn scholar James Greig to a Mr. Brunner (no address) congratulating him on his "possession of the portrait of Mr. Fairlie."
[3] Included in the "Exhibition of Paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Raeburn" (Ehrich Galleries, New York, March 22-April 10, 1915).