Portrait of Elzbieta, Mme. la Comtesse de Grabowska

Almarus Edward Digby, Esq. (1889–1950), London, by 1950;

Purchased from his posthumous sale, Catalogue of Gold Snuff Boxes, Watches, Musical Boxes, Objects of Vertu and Fine Portrait Miniatures, Sotheby’s, London, June 21, 1951, lot 73, as Mme. la Comtesse de Grabowska (née de Bethisy), by Leggatt Brothers, London, probably on behalf of Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1951–1958 [1];

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

Notes:

[1] “A good French miniature by Augustin, called Mme. la Comtesse de Grabowska (née de Bethisy), half-length, full face in white hat and feathers, low-cut white dress with broad purple sash, in a circular ormolu frame, 3in.; and another fine small Miniature of La Duchesse de St. Leu, probably by Isabey, in a pale blue dress, enamelled and pearl-bordered frame, 1 1/2 in.” According to an attached price list, Leggatt bought lot 73 for £45. 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.