The collection has been asked if there is anything on the back of the picture and whether anything is known about the donor, James Moon.

Apart from the ‘Portrait of an Unknown Young Man’ (National Trust, The Greyfriars) – the subject of another Art Detective discussion http://tinyurl.com/y2z4nw4f – the works on Art UK are mainly identified subjects. I will pursue the request already made in 2021 for photographs of the reverse of The Greyfriars’ picture.

There is a question over the identification of ‘Percy Norris’ (Science and Industry Museum) http://tinyurl.com/ywhktt67 (please let us know if you can help confirm that).

Here's a theatrical portrait by Copnall from 1907:

http://tinyurl.com/3pxhj7pb

Niall Hodson (Curator, The Williamson) says the item is currently on loan, but when it's back at the Gallery they will get a photograph. They did look at the back when it went out on loan, and if he recalls correctly it has Copnall's signature and the title 'The Comedian', but no date or further details. That will be double-checked and it will be looked at more closely. The file on the donor will be checked too.

The sitter may be a music hall performer, but the dress looks more Victorian than Edwardian.

The Norris picture, dated 1926, was a gift from Mr Brian D. Norris in 1970, presumably a relative (son?) of the sitter.

Could it be T W Barrett? Looks like his music hall garb.

That's a viable suggestion given that Barrett (1851-1935) died in Liverpool, but it would have to be fairly late in life , despite the dress being 19th c. Wiki notes he was performing as late as 1922 but there is no obvious photograph of him online, most images being as a younger man on lithographed song covers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._W._Barrett

An article in the 'Manchester Evening News' of the 19th January 1995 quotes Brian D. Norris as being "the seventh and last member of the family to serve the [motoring] company [Joseph Cockshoot and Co., Ltd.]

Brian had numerous uncles, including one named Percy. Brian's father John Octavious Harold Norris (1880-1972) was an automobile engineer.

John's book ‘Early Days’ might include photos of family members but I can't find a reference to it online.

The sitter could be in his 50s or 60s, which Barrett was in the first two decades of the 20th century.

This work dates from 1914.

The Birkenhead News, of Saturday 14th March 1914, in its review of the Spring Art Exhibition at the Art Gallery and Museum in Hamilton Street, reports the following:

"The outstanding work among the portraitists is 'The Comedian", by Frank. T. Copnall. It is a clever study of the humorous face of a comedian of the old school. There is latent laughter in his lineaments and the picture is one that arrests and holds attention."

James Moon was Mayor of Birkenhead in 1914. The Birkenhead News, of Wednesday 3rd June 1914, reported that:

"The Museum and Arts Sub-Committee reports that......the Mayor (Mr. James Moon) has presented an oil painting by Mr. Frank T. Copnall entitled 'The Comedian'."

He resided at “Westwood”, Bidston, for many years. He was born in 1858 and died in 1930, and is buried in St Oswald's Churchyard, Bidston:

http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178720503/james-moon

If the sitter was not named in 1914, it may be that he was not a known comedian but a suitable model posing as such.

Or possibly so famous at that time that no name was required. The Wikipedia page kindly provided by Pieter van der Merwe mentions a Barrett/Sickert connection so perhaps painting his portrait was a feather in Copnall's artist's cap.

The Liverpool Historical Society might be able to tell you much more about this comedian. There is more than one book on Merseyside and Liverpool theatrical history

According to Mary Bennett, Merseyside: Painters People Places (1978) p.74 Copnall ‘took up portrait painting as a career in 1897, as the result of a commission. He had exhibited his work at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool at its annual Liverpool Autumn Exhibition from 1894 & at the Royal Academy, London from 1902. He married Teresa Butchart, who was also a portrait painter Teresa Copnall (1882-1972), who died in Hoylake, Wirral. As The Comedian was presented to the Williamson Art Gallery, near Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsula opposite Liverpool, it is just as likely that the comic played on the stage of one of the Birkenhead music hall theatres, or at New Brighton as well as Liverpool. The Argyle theatre in Birkenhead was one of the most famous variety act theatres in the UK and was open until it was bombed in September 1940.

If it is Barrett it might be worthwhile contacting Karen O'Rourke, Curator (Sport, Music & Performance) at the Museum of Liverpool (National Museums Liverpool), Pier Head, Liverpool, United Kingdom L3 1DG Venue phone number: 0151 478 4545 – but not at the weekend or on Monday, when the venue is closed.

The sketch of TW Barrett by Sickert and posted by Pieter 08/02/2024 20:03 is in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Copnall portrait posted by Jacinto on 08/02/2024 18:40 is not a theatrical portrait, but one of Liverpool’s J.P’s dressed up as a Norman nobleman for the Liverpool Historical Pageant of 1907, a parade held to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Liverpool being granted its town charter by King John.

Given his dates, it would be surprising if no photos of Barrett were taken (including perhaps the carte-de-visite type). A local press image at the time of his death might be another possibility.

Thanks to everyone for their posts - it was a talk at Liverpool Artists Club recently that piqued my interest in the painting! I'll keep digging - it's purely out of curiosity and I have the time!
Richard

Attached is a composite of images of Barrett, from between 1880 and 1922.