Portrait of Edward Manning, Captain of the Pitt

Probably commissioned by the sitter, Captain Edward Manning (1747–1798), London, January 1796–1798;

Inherited by his brother [1];

By descent to his son, Alderman Manning (ca. 1765–1848), Dedham, Essex, England, by 1798–1848;

By descent to his daughter, Elizabeth Cavell (née Manning, 1826–1894), Suffolk, England, 1848–1894;

By descent to her son, Edmund Dubois Cavell (1862–1945), Suffolk, England, 1894–1942;

Purchased at his sale, Fine Modern Jewels, Miniatures, and Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, July 16, 1942, lot 72, as Admiral Manning, by Guerault, 1942 [2];

H. Russell Esq., C.B.E., by 1957;

Sold at his sale, Objects of Art and Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, May 7, 1957, lot 60, as Portrait of Admiral Manning [3];

Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, by 1965;

Their gift to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1965.

Notes

[1] While n. 2 indicates that Captain Manning was the “great-uncle of Elizabeth Manning, daughter of Alderman Manning,” any information surrounding Captain Manning’s brother, and Alderman’s father, has not yet been located.

[2] According to the lot description, “A fine miniature of Admiral Manning by John Smart, signed and dated 1796, three-quarters dexter, gaze directed at spectator, hair en queue, in white cravat and blue coat, with black collar decorated with gold braid, against a grey background, oval, 3 1/4 in.; leather case. Admiral Manning was great-uncle of Elizabeth Manning, daughter of Alderman Manning, M.F.H. of Lower Park, Dedham, Essex, a relation of the famous Cardinal of that name and ancestor of Nurse Cavell on her mother’s side.” See the previous lot: “A miniature of Humphrey Cavell, an ancestor of Nurse Cavell.” According to Art Prices Current 20 (1941–1942), Guerault bought lot 72 for 38 pounds.

This is almost certainly Danton Guérault, Esq., recorded in probate as “Pierre Henri Danton Guerault-Froc,” who collected a variety of portrait miniatures. He donated several to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1927. Guérault is described as an art dealer in “Miniatures from Spain? Story of Barcelona Escapes,” The Scotsman (Midlothian, Scotland), August 6, 1938, 16. His posthumous sale (Christie, Manson, and Woods, London, June 23, 1954, lots 124–25) included a collection of books about famous miniature painters. Guérault died on April 15, 1954, at Hammersmith Hospital, London.

[3] According to the lot description, “Portrait of Admiral Manning by John Smart, signed with initials and dated 1796, three-quarter face to the right, wearing blue coat, the black collar with gilt frogging and buttons, with white cravat and powdered hair—oval—3 1/4in. high—gold frame.” An anontated sales catalogue is located at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Miller Nichols Library and is likely annotated by Mr. or Mrs. Starr with an “X” next to the lot number.