oil painting
- Museum number
- 1958,1006.2700
- Description
-
Oil painting; portrait of John Arnold in brown coat and vest; holding a watch.
- Production date
- 1760-1770
- Dimensions
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Height: 87 centimetres
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Length: 35.50 inches
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Width: 70 centimetres
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Width: 27.50 inches
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Arnold is shown holding a watch as befits a leading a watchmaker and chronometer maker. He was born in Bodmin, Cornwall, the son of Richard Arnold to whom he was apprenticed in about 1754. He was the principal chronometer maker of his day, among his achievements was a repeating watch set in a ring made for King George III for which he received £500. In about 1763 he set up business in Devereux Court, The Strand, London. He was a member of the Clockmakers Company from 1783 until his death in 1799
The artist may be Mason Chamberlin “best-known for his honest, unpretentious portraits of the merchant and professional classes” of which this is one. The painting formed part of the important horological collection put together by Courtney Adrian Ilbert (1868-1957) which came to the Museum in 1958.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1998-present, London, National Maritime Museum, Arnold & Earnshaw, Pioneers of the Chronometer, LT Loan
1998-1999 04 Dec-18 Apr, London, National Maritime Museum, Arnold & Earnshaw, Pioneers of the Chronometer
- Acquisition date
- 1958
- Acquisition notes
- The Ilbert Collection of clocks, prints and other related material was destined to be sold at Christie's auction house on 6th-7th November 1958. As a result of the generous donation of funds by Gilbert Edgar CBE the sale was cancelled and the material purchased privately from the beneficiaries of the Ilbert Estate.
Ilbert's watches were then acquired with further funds from Gilbert Edgar CBE, public donations and government funds. These were then registered in the series 1958,1201.
Sold Christie's 'Old Pictures and Drawings Friday April 2nd 1954, lot 150 - Chamberlin, portrait of John Arnold. Bought by Smith ? for 21 guineas hammer The picture was entered in the sale by Canterbury's (art dealers?).
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1958,1006.2700
- Additional IDs
-
Previous owner/ex-collection number: CAI.2700 (Ilbert Collection)