oil painting
- Museum number
- Painting.36
- Description
-
Portrait of Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824). half-length, seated, turned half-left; wearing coat with furred collar.
- Production date
- 19thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 76.50 centimetres
-
Width: 64.20 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Richard Payne Knight, who bequeathed a collection of bronzes, coins, gems, cameos and old master drawings was one of the major benefactors of the BM. His wealth was based on the activities of his grandfather, the ironmaster Richard Knight (1659-1745). The original portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence was produced for the Society of Dilettanti in 1805. The painter of this portrait which differs from the Dilettanti version, was Margaret Sarah Carpenter, the leading female artist of her day. She was the first woman to be nominated for selection to the Royal Academy for 76 years but was refused entry. Her husband was appointed Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the Museum in 1852 and the couple lived in one of the staff residences.
Edward Croft Murray notes that this painting is after an orginal picture by Sir Thomas Lawrence, presented by Payne Knight to the Dilettanti Society in 1805.
- Location
- On display (G2)
- Exhibition history
-
Old Board Room.
Trustees' Committee Room (New Wing) (23.4.1982) (?to 2000)
- Condition
- Examined 2.iv.63. Surface cleaning and re-stretching.
- Acquisition notes
- The portrait was given to the Museum by the artist in 1852 (Central Archive, Original Papers, Letter 1 May 1852) in the hope that the Trustees would “allow of the portrait being hung up in the Department of Prints and Drawings, which owes so much of its interest to the Valuable bequest of Mr Payne Knight”.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- Painting.36
