Portrait of a Man

Probably James Thursby-Pelham (1869–1947), London, by 1947 [1];

With an unknown owner, by March 31, 1949 [2];

Purchased from the unknown owner’s sale, Fine Portrait Miniatures, Sotheby’s, London, March 31, 1949, lot 67, as Miniature of a Man, by Morrison, 1949 [3];

Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, by 1971;

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1971.

Notes

[1] This is according to the 1949 sales catalogue, which states, “From the Pelham Collection.” James Thursby-Pelham collected a large group of plumbago miniatures. See David Loggan, Mrs. A. Harrison, 1681, plumbago on parchment, 5 in. (12.7 cm), sold at Christie’s, London, “A Life’s Devotion,” November 20, 2013, lot 104, https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5733147.

[2] According to the 1949 sales catalogue, “Other Properties” sold lots 67–84.

[3] According to the lot description, “A Fine Miniature of a Man, signed ‘D.M. 1664,’ the man, aged forty, is depicted head and shoulders three-quarters dexter, gaze directed at spectator, brown hair falling to a deep linen collar over a black robe, against a curtain, cloud and sky to dexter side, oval, 2 1/2 in. From the Pelham Collection. Basil Long records this artist working in England circa 1663–1676. The example in question is very close to the man in armour in the H. E. H. Digby Collection, signed and dated 1663 and illustrated by Long in ‘British Miniaturists,’ fig. 39.” The annotated catalogue for this 1949 sale is located at University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Miller Nichols Library. The annotations are most likely by Mr. or Mrs. Starr. The annotations include the buyer of lot 67: “Morrison £26.”