Portrait of John Stanley, later 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley

Commissioned by the sitter, John Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley (1766–1850), or his wife, Lady Maria Josepha Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley (1771–1863), Alderley Park, Cheshire, England, May–October 1796;

By descent to their son, Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley (1802–1869), Alderley Park, Cheshire, England, by 1863–1869;

By descent to his son, Edward Lyulph Stanley, 4th Baron Sheffield, 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley, and 3rd Baron Eddisbury (1839–1925), Alderley Park, Cheshire, England, 1869–1925;

By descent to his son, Arthur Lyulph Stanley, 5th Baron Sheffield, 5th Baron Stanley of Alderley, and 4th Baron Eddisbury (1875–1931), Alderley Park, Cheshire, England, 1925–1931;

By descent to his son, Edward John Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield, 6th Baron Stanley of Alderley, and 5th Baron Eddisbury (1907–1971), Alderley Park, Cheshire, England, 1931–1938;

Purchased from his sale, Miniatures, Objects of Art, and Vertu, Christie’s, London, May 24, 1938, lot 18, as Portrait of John, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley (1766–1850), by Pawsey and Payne, London, 1938 [1];

Mrs. Marjorie Rees (d. after 1954), by 1954 [2];

Purchased from her sale, Fine Portrait Miniatures, Faberge, Watches, and Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, November 11, 1954, lot 53, as John, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley, by Leggatt Brothers, London, probably on behalf of Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1954–1958 [3];

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1958.

Notes

[1] The lot description states, “Henry Edridge, A.R.A. Portrait of John, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley (1766-1850), three-quarter face to the left, in blue coat, white cravat and with a quizzing glass—oval, signed, and dated 1796.” According to Art Prices Current (1937–38), p. A95, no. 3817, Pawsey and Payne bought lot 18 for “£9 10s.”

[2] Additional information on Rees remains unknown, but her life dates may be ca. 1899–1955.

[3] The lot description states, “John, 1st Baron Stanley of Alderley by Henry Edridge, signed and dated 1796, nearly full face, powdered hair en queue, in knotted white cravat and blue coat against a brown background, hair at back, oval, 2 3/4 in.” An annotated sales catalogue is located at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Miller Nichols Library and is likely annotated by Mr. or Mrs. Starr with a circled lot number and “Bid 75.” According to an attached price list, Leggatt bought lot 53 for 25 pounds. Archival research has shown that Leggatt Brothers served as purchasing agents for the Starrs. See correspondence between Betty Hogg and Martha Jane Starr, May 15 and June 3, 1950, Nelson-Atkins curatorial files.