Forward Portraits: British 16th and 17th C, Scotland: Artists and Subjects 10 Did William Dobson paint this portrait of James, 1st Marquess of Montrose?

James, 1st Marquess of Montrose
Topic: Artist

There is quite a similarity with William Dobson's portrait of Montrose after which there is a line engraving in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/35684/james-graham-1st-marquess-montrose-1612-1650-royalist

However, that print is probably eighteenth century, not seventeenth century.

George Vertue's engraving of the same portrait (an impression of which is in the British Museum) was made in 1731: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3606136&partId=1&searchText=montrose&page=1

The National Trust for Scotland would be interesting to know more about it. The previous director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, James Holloway, had commented a few years ago that he believed the painting could be by Dobson but was, at the very least, from the circle of Dobson.

Martin Hopkinson, Entry reviewed by Art UK

10 comments

Kieran Owens,

Much of the debate regarding the various portraits of James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, can be found here:

https://www.artuk.org/artdetective/discussions/discussions/if-not-james-graham-of-montrose-who-is-this-sitter-is-he-from-the-european-mainland

As mentioned therein, a useful discussion on the multiplicity of very different images of James Graham - from four paintings that, it is claimed, bear the greatest resemblance to him, and on to "the endless engravings of the penny-print school" - can be found in the first appendix of the first volume of the 1856 edition of "Memoirs of the Marquis of Montrose" by Mark Napier. The attached composite shows these four "true likenesses" as described in the book.

https://archive.org/stream/memoirsmarquism02napigoog#page/n410/mode/2up/search/penny-print

Attached also are two other composites depicting Graham.

Jacinto Regalado,

This is clearly after the Dobson portrait sold by Sotheby's linked above, so the original question would seem to have been answered. Also, the Art UK entry should give the sitter's vital dates (1612-1650).

The sitter's dates have been added. I agree that the question has been answered. I'll happily update and close this as soon as I hear from Michelle or Bendor.

Marcie Doran,

Another portrait of the Marquis of Montrose “by Dobson” was in a Christie, Manson & Woods auction on April 2, 1860, as reported in that day’s ‘Morning Post’ (see notice, attached, hopefully).

Jacob Simon,

Not sure why this discussion is still live despite Michelle's recommendation from 14 months ago to close it.

Martin Hopkinson,

The NTS should be asked again if it want to follow Michelle's recommendation - may be it was missed before

When closed it would be useful to note in 'more information' both that the original was no. 14 in the NPG's 1983 Dobson show and that it came out of original Graham family descent only when sold at Sotheby's on 3 July 2013. Just saying 'after' is half an answer to anyone who might have a future interest but not know 'after what' or where to find more information given the original is not in public hands.

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