Portrait of a Woman, Possibly Mrs. Ramsay

Possibly an unknown woman, by 1903;

Possibly purchased from her sale, Old Sèvres Porcelain, Old English Miniatures, Old French Gold and Enamel Boxes, Watches, and Objects of Vertu, Bronzes, and Other Objects of Art, Christie, Manson, and Woods, May 15, 1903, lot 29, as Portrait of Mrs. Ramsay, by Charles John Wertheimer (1842–1911), 1903–1911 [1];

Possibly sold at his posthumous sale, Old French Snuff-Boxes and Objects of Art and Decoration, the Property of the late Charles J. Wertheimer, Esq., Christie, Manson, and Woods, May 8–9, 1912, lot 48, as Portrait of Mrs. Ramsay [2];

John W. (1905–2000) and Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, by 1958;

Their gift through the Starr Foundation to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1958.

Notes

[1] The lot is described as “Portrait of Mrs. Ramsay, wife of Allan Ramsay, the painter, and sister-in-law of Lady Archibald Campbell, by John Smart—signed J.S., and dated 1789, I. (India). Viewed three-quarter face turned to the right, full powdered hair falling in ringlets on her shoulder, in white lawn dress semi-décolleté—in plain gold rim, and metal-gilt and black lacquer frame.” The buyer is handwritten in the catalogue as “C. Wertheimer,” identifying the purchaser as Charles John Wertheimer, the art dealer and collector. Unfortunately, while the description and identification of the sitter as Mrs. Ramsay are similar, it is difficult to state with certainty whether or not the Nelson-Atkins miniature matches this object.

[2] The lot is described as “A portrait of Mrs. Ramsay, wife of Allan Ramsay, the Painter, by John Smart, 1789 (Indian period)—signed with initials—in gold locket, with diamond border. She is viewed three-quarter face, turned to the left, with powdered curling hair, wearing white dress.” Note that the case description differs in each sale, neither of which matches the miniature’s plain gilt copper alloy bezel. Miniature cases and frames were often and easily exchanged for others. What remains to be determined is whether the Nelson-Atkins miniature was in fact the same portrait of Mrs. Ramsay sold in the above two auctions.