Portrait of a Viscount

Possibly Major John McLean Griffin (1870–1957), Bourn Hall, Cambridge, by 1926 [1];

Possibly purchased at his sale, Objects of Vertu, Sotheby’s, London, May 12, 1926, lot 177, as A Man, by Harry Seal (1873–1948), Ullesthorpe House, Leicestershire, 1926–1948 [2];

Possibly purchased from his posthumous sale, The Choice Collection of Portrait Miniatures, formed by the late Harry Seal, Esq., Christie’s, London, February 16, 1949, lot 121, as A Gentleman, by “Landsberg,” 1949 [3];

Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, by 1958 [4];

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

Notes

[1] Major McLean Griffin’s surname is sometimes alternately spelled “Maclean Griffin” and “McClean Griffin.” His name is inscribed as “Major John McLean Griffin” on his tombstone in St. Helena and St. Mary Churchyard, Bourn, Cambridge.

[2] The lot description from Major Griffin’s sale says, “An enamel miniature, of a man, by C. F. Zincke, head and shoulders, three-quarters to the left, in blue coat and white cravat, oval, 1.5 in.” Note that the dimensions do not match exactly, but with sales staff working quickly to catalogue objects of a tiny size, they were not always precise.

[3] The lot description from Mr. Seal’s sale says, “A Gentleman, by C. F. Zincke / Three-quarter face to the right, in blue coat, white cravat and powdered wig / Oval – 1 1/2 in. high / From the collection of Major J. M. Griffin, 1926.” Several miniatures acquired by the Starrs derived from Major Griffin and Mr. Seal.

[4] It is possible that the Starrs acquired this from Landsberg or another dealer after the conclusion of the Seal sale, from which they had acquired several miniatures.