Portraits: British 19th C, Portraits: British 20th C, Wales: Artists and Subjects 8 comments Whose monogram is on this portrait of William Joseph Buckley?
Photo credit: Carmarthenshire Museums Service Collection
This is signed with a monogram with a prominent A. The Buckley family's house was Parc Howard, which was sold to Llanelli Council in 1912.
Martin Hopkinson, Entry reviewed by Art UK
8 comments
An image of the monogram (lower left) is attached.
Comments from the collection, with research on the sitter:
‘William Joseph (1851–1905) was a member of the Buckley brewing dynasty of Llanelli. Other members of the family are here on Art UK, too.
William was active in Carmarthenshire society: Sheriff, county councillor, chair of the family business and with commercial interests in local industries and agricultural improvement. He was prominent in the local hunts, which explains his garb. The final link below is to an obituary which is perhaps the most informative source.
Forgive the indulgence, but I have provided some links below. Searches on "William Joseph Buckley" / "William J Buckley", with either followed by "J.P." seemed to yield the best results, should anyone like to take it further. https://bit.ly/37K0uaA
CHILD AND BUCKLEY / Maria, daughter of Mr. Child first mentioned, married the Rev James Buckley (of good English stock), who died Aug., 1839. Amongst other issue the Rev. James Buckley had James Buckley (m. a daughter of Thomas Wedge, Penyfai ; d. 1883), a townsman of culture, integrity and influence. He had issue sons and daughters of whom James Buckley (Bryncaerau), Henry Child Buckley (Bradbury Hall) and William James Buckley (Penyfai and Castle Gorfod) are amongst our most popular and respected citizens.
'12th February 1876: Appointment of William James Buckley, J.P., M.F.H. as Treasurer and Lord High Executioner of the Ancient and Honourable Order of United Boozers. Paper Seal. Brandy bottle statant guardant over a Schweppes flask flanked sinister by a whisky tumbler.' And references to hunting.
1889: A tin-plate works for Burry Port. https://bit.ly/3wan3i5
1889: Carmarthenshire Hunt Club. https://bit.ly/3L3xUhL
1890: Entire Horse Show at Carmarthen. https://bit.ly/3PeLK4h
1895: Mr W.J.Buckley MFC. https://bit.ly/3l5ib7t
1896: Burry Port & Gwendraeth Railway Company. https://bit.ly/39XGIsQ
1905: Death of Mr. W.J. Buckley Penyfai. https://bit.ly/3M8CI71
However, we are no further forward in revealing the mysterious artist A. Would anyone have suggestions how to progress this?’
The picture may be after a photograph.
I cannot really make out the monogram. Here is an article about a portrait of W.J. Buckley by A.C. Davies of London that was to be after a photograph.
Arthur Davies (1856–1929)? My composite is based on his work ‘Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener (1850–1916), 1st Earl Kitchener’. https://tinyurl.com/46nrznvy
I doubt it, Marcie, at least based on your composite. The portrait of Kitchener is by a better hand.
The sitter's face is especially suggestive of a photographic source. I believe there were firms which provided painted portraits after photographs. Could the monogram be that of such a firm, as opposed to that of an individual painter?
While the March 18, 1927, will of W.J. Buckley's wife Muriel Buckley (née Howell) (abt. 1870–May 16, 1928) mentions many items, it does not itemize her pictures. They were bequeathed to her eldest son William Howell Buckley (February 7, 1896–April 5, 1981). I have ordered his will as well as W.J. Buckley’s will.