Portrait of the Hon. Henry Erskine

John Ross Menzies (1852–1935), West Links House, North Berwick, Scotland, by 1935;

Purchased from his posthumous sale, Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, June 28, 1935, lot 150, as The Hon. Henry Erskine, by Pawsey and Paine, London, 1935 [1];

Mrs. Marjorie Rees, by 1954 [2];

Purchased from her sale, Fine Portrait Miniatures, Faberge, Watches, and Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, November 11, 1954, lot 66, as Hon. Henry Erskine, 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, “The Hon. Henry Erskine, by Richard Cosway, nearly full face, the head slightly turned and gaze directed to sitter’s left, in grey coat with white cravat, cloud and sky background, signed in full at the back and dated 1793, 2 5/8 in. [See Frontispiece].” According to an attached price list, Pawsey and Paine bought lot 150 for 42 pounds.

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

[3] The lot description states, “A Miniature of the Hon. Henry Erskine by Richard Cosway, signed and dated 1793, head and gaze three-quarters sinister, powdered hair, in white frilled cravat and grey coat, cloud and sky background, 2 3/4 in.” The sale is located at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Miller Nichols Library and is likely annotated by Mr. or Mrs. Starr with “B – 400.” The illustration is also annotated with “400.” According to an attached price list, Leggatt bought lot 66 for 145 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.