Portrait of Samuel Francis Dashwood

Probably commissioned by the sitter, Reverend Samuel Francis Dashwood (1773–1826), Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire, England, 1799 [1];

Inherited by his wife, Lydia Boughton Dashwood (1772–1850), Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire, England, by 1826 [2];

Probably by descent to their son, Reverend Samuel Vere Dashwood (1803–1876), Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire, England, by 1850;

Probably by descent to his son, Reverend Robert Lewes Dashwood (1840–1912), London, England, by 1876;

Probably by descent to his son, Reverend Robert Vere Lewes Dashwood (1869–1949), Somerset, England, by 1912;

Purchased from his posthumous sale, Catalogue of Fine Sicilian Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Fine Portrait Miniatures, Sotheby’s, London, October 27, 1949, lot 128, as Samuel Francis Dashwood, by Bayne-Powell, 1949 [3];

Robert Lane Bayne-Powell (1910–1994), by October 27, 1949;

Unknown owner, by March 24, 1952 [4];

Purchased from the unknown owner’s sale, Catalogue of Objects of Art and Vertu, Miniatures, Watches and Fans, Christie, Manson, and Woods, London, March 24, 1952, lot 46, as Portrait of Samuel Francis Dashwood, by Meikle, 1952 [5];

Unknown owner, by May 21, 1953 [6];

Purchased from the unknown owner’s sale, Catalogue of Portrait Miniatures, Rare Table Clocks, Watches, and Other Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, May 21, 1953, lot 56, as A Miniature of Samuel Francis Dashwood, by Leggatt Brothers, London, probably on behalf of Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1953–1958 [7];

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

Notes:

[1] The portrait was painted before Dashwood’s marriage in 1803.

[2] Lydia’s maiden name was Boughton Lister; she was previously married to John Tipping. According to Dashwood’s will: “I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Lydia Boughton all and singular my house / hold goods and furniture plate silver china books monies securities for money / goods cattle [illeg.] and personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever.” Quoted from “Will of Reverend Samuel Francis Dashwood, Clerk of Stanford on Soar, Nottinghamshire,” August 22, 1831, National Archives, Kew, PROB 11/1789/34.

[3] “Samuel Francis Dashwood, by Samson Towgood Roch, signed and dated 1799, three-quarters sinister, gaze directed at spectator, fair hair, fresh complexion, in white cravat, and dark coat, oval, 2 7/8in.” Located at UMKC’s Miller Nichols Library and likely annotated by the Starrs. Annotated with “Bayne Powell” and “15”. According to an attached price list, Bayne Powell purchased lot 128 for £15.

[4] Listed as “different properties” in the 1952 sales catalogue.

[5] “Portrait of Samuel Francis Dashwood, by S. T. Roche, signed and dated 1799, in black coat and white stock – oval, 2¾in. high; and a portrait of a young man in brown coat – oval, 1 7/8in. high – gold brooch frame.” Located at UMKC’s Miller Nichols Library. According to Art Prices Current (1951–1952), “Meikle” bought lot 46 for £9 9s.

[6] Listed as “various properties” in the 1953 sales catalogue.

[7] “A Miniature of Samuel Francis Dashwood, by Towgood Roche, signed and dated 1799, head and shoulders three-quarters sinister, gaze directed at spectator, grey curly hair and wearing white cravat and coat, 2 3/4in.; and another of an Officer, by Richard Crosse, head and shoulders three-quarters dexter, powdered hair en queue, wearing red coat with blue and gold facings, 1/2in., in gold and enamel frame.” Located at UMKC’s Miller Nichols Library and likely annotated by the Starrs. Annotated with circled lot number, “£10” and “28 [illegible]”. According to an attached price list, Leggatt bought lot 56 for £10. The price list is annotated with Leggatt’s name underlined with a dash next to it. 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.