Portrait of Ralph Payne, later 1st Baron Lavington

Probably commissioned by the sitter, Ralph Payne (1739–1807), 1st Baron Lavington, London and Antigua, 1768–1807 [1];

To his wife, Françoise Lambertina Christiana Charlotte Harriet Theresa (née Kölbel, ca. 1750–1830), Hampton Court Palace, England, 1807 [2];

Inherited by Payne’s half-brother, Sir William Payne-Gallwey (1759–1831), 1st Baronet, Yorkshire, by 1830–1831 [3];

By descent to his son, Sir William Payne-Gallwey (later William Payne-Frankland, 1807–1881), 2nd Baronet, Thirkleby, Yorkshire, 1831–1881;

By descent to his son, Sir Ralph William Frankland-Payne-Gallwey (1848–1916), 3rd Baronet, Yorkshire, 1881–1916 [4];

By descent to his nephew, Sir John Frankland-Payne-Gallwey (1889–1955), 4th Baronet, Thirkleby, Yorkshire, 1916–1951 [5];

Purchased from his sale, Gold Snuff Boxes, Watches, Musical Boxes, Objects of Vertu, and Fine Portrait Miniatures, Sotheby’s, London, June 21, 1951, lot 111, as Miniature of a Man, Called Ralph Payne, by Leggatt Brothers, London, probably on behalf of Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1951–1965 [6];

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

Notes

[1] Payne died childless and almost destitute in the Caribbean island of Antigua.

[2] After Payne’s death, Kölbel returned from Antigua to England and later died at Hampton Court Palace in 1830. This is probably how the miniature returned to England. Kölbel’s birth date has not been confirmed, but since she married in 1767, she might have been born as late as 1750.

[3] This provenance assumes that the miniature descended along with the baronetcy. The 4th Baronet is the first confirmed owner of the miniature in 1951.

[4] Sir Ralph William Frankland-Payne-Gallwey was an engineer, historian, ballistics expert, and artist. His only son died in action during the First World War.

[5] According the sales catalogue from 1951, the miniature was “Part of the Thirkleby Heirlooms (Sold by Order of Sir John Frankland Payne-Gallwey, Bt.).”

[6] The lot description says, “A Miniature of a Man, by John Smart, signed and dated 1768, called Ralph Payne, head and shoulders three-quarters dexter, gaze directed at spectator, powdered hair en queue, in white cravat, cream vest, and pale blue coat, gold slide frame, 1 1/2 in.”

An annotated sale catalogue is located at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Miller Nichols Library and was likely annotated by Mr. or Mrs. Starr with a circled lot number and “£65.” The reproduction of the miniature is also annotated with “£65,” which aligns with price list. Leggatt bought lot 111 for 65 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.