Portrait of David Reid

Probably commissioned by the sitter, David Reid (1761–1845), Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland, 1802–1845;

By descent to his son, James Reid (1810–1854), Fermoy, Cork, Ireland, 1845–1854 [1];

Inherited by his wife, Anne Matilda Reid (née Cotter, d. 1860), Fermoy, Cork, Ireland, 1854–1860 [2];

By descent to their son, Francis James David Reid (1848–1924), Fermoy, Cork, Ireland, 1860–1924 [3];

Harry Seal (1873–1948), Ullesthorpe House, Leicestershire, England, by 1926–1948 [4];

Purchased from his posthumous sale, The Choice Collection of Portrait Miniatures, formed by the late Harry Seal, Esq., Christie, Manson, and Woods, London, February 16, 1949, lot 67, as Dr. Reid, by Martyn, 1949 [5];

Unknown owner, by 1949 [6];

Purchased from the unknown owner’s sale, Objects of Art and Vertu, Miniatures, Coins, and Glass Paperweights, Christie, Manson, and Woods, London, December 19, 1949, lot 117, as Portrait of Dr. Reid, by Leggatt Brothers, London, probably on behalf of Mr. John W. (1905–2000) and Mrs. Martha Jane (1906–2011) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 1949–2011 [7];

By descent to their son, Mr. John Philip (b. 1933), and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Barry Mann (b. 1939) Starr, Kansas City, MO, 2011;

Given to their son, James Philip Starr (b. ca. 1963), Kansas City, MO, by 2017–2018;

His gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2018.

Notes

[1] According to “Will of James Reid of Mill Bank, Cork,” The National Archives, Kew, England, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11/2193/419: “immediately after the decease of my said wife as to Mill Bank with the plate pictures and books aforesaid to the use and upon trust for my eldest son Francis James David Reid if and when he shall attain the age of twenty one years.”

[2] The couple had at least four other children, in addition to Francis James David Reid.

[3] F. J. D. Reid was a surgeon at Bridport Hospital, Dorset and a retired officer of the “Inniskilling” Dragoons and the 6th Dragoons. His marriage announcement confirms James Reid of Millbank house is his father: “Reid—Beamish—On October 13, at St. Luke’s Church, Cork, Francis J. D. Reid, Esq., of Millbank-house, Fermoy, to Ellen Catherine, second daughter of William Beamish, M. D., of Cork.” See “Medical News: Marriages,” The Medical Times and Gazette: A Journal of Medical Science, Literature, Criticism, and News (London: John Churchill and Sons, 1870), 2:522.

[4] The provenance included in the following lot description suggests that the miniature was no longer in Reid’s collection by 1926; he had passed two years prior, in 1924.

[5] Described in the sales catalogue as, “Dr. Reid (1762–1822), by John Smart, signed with initials and dated 1802. Three-quarter face to the right, in dark blue coat and white cravat, with grey hair. Oval—3 in. high—in gold locket, the reverse with his initials ‘D. R.’ in gold on plaited hair. From the Collection of F. J. D. Reid, Esq., formerly of Fermoy, Co. Cork, a descendant of the sitter, 1926.” According to Art Prices Current (1947–49), “Martyn” bought lot 67 for £57 15s.

[6] In the December 19, 1949, sale, “Different Properties” sold lots 98–119.

[7] “Portrait of Dr. Reid (1762–1822), by John Smart, signed with initials and dated 1802, three-quarter face to the right, in dark blue coat and white cravat, with grey hair – oval, 3in. high, in gold locket, the reverse with his initials D.R. in gold on plaited hair.” According to Art Prices Current (1949–1950), Leggatt bought lot 117 for £99 15s. Archival research indicates that the Starrs purchased many miniatures from Leggatt Brothers, either directly or with Leggatt acting as their purchasing agent. See correspondence between Betty Hogg and Martha Jane Starr, May 15 and June 3, 1950, Nelson-Atkins curatorial files.