Ser eae tors Te ane oe” phy WER 2 wtectts ae en eon : : =. : et Psy ¢ : ‘ Reece ty ys Sit ee TF ote ON, ne es a rea Dy eee ‘ Ue fa re “E . = NN ey PAINTINGS IN THE COLLECTION OF JOSEPH WIDENER AT LYNNEWOOD HALL ELKINS PARK, PENNSYLVANIA PRIVATELY PRIUN TED 1923 ) THE FOUNDER OF THIS COLLECTION DEDICATED TO. THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER TO WHOM ALL~ WHO MAY ENJOY=I? 4 “ARE INDEBTED JosepH WIDENER 2 " Pa ‘ 1.) ae ’ ~'¢, a ie ie * oe Copyright 1923 . FOSEPH WIDENER a tty, me ‘ ’ A i a ale handbook, containing brief descriptive notes of one hundred pictures in Mr. Joseph Widener’s collection, is an abbreviated edition of the catalogue de luxe, in three volumes, prepared by B. Berenson, C. HorsrepeE bE Groot, W. Roserts and W. R. VaLenTINER. A number of paintings have been included which have been added to the collection since the last volume of this catalogue appeared [19 16]. W.R. VaLENTINER PIU Re IE (GyaN DAC eRe NY THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R. A. (1727-1788) * PORTRAIT OF MRS. METHUEN GORN at Sudbury, Suffolk, son of a clothier; died S| in London in 1788. Studied art in the St. a clNA * Martin’s Lane Academy under Francis Hay- vets] man; settled in Bath in 1760; a foundation member of the Royal Academy in 1768; removed to London in 1774. Mathilda, elder daughter of Sir Thomas Gooch, third baronet of Benacre Hall, Suffolk; married in 1776 Paul Cobb Methuen of Corsham; died in 1826. Her eldest son was created Baron Methuen in 1838. — Half figure, directed to left, head turned and looking to right; age about twenty-five to thirty; bluish-white low dress garnished with pearl ropes and drops; pow- dered hair, dressed high with pearl band and white feathers and falling in curls over neck; brownish back- ground. On canvas: Height, 33 inches; width, 28 inches. Painted about 1776. From the family, purchased 1893. SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS, P.R.A. (1723-1792) PORTRAIT OF THE HON. MRS. GRAY orn at Plympton, Devonshire, son of a school- master; studied under Thomas Hudson; visited Italy and France; settled in London in 1752. Foundation member and first president of the A it Royal Academy; died in London 1792. Half figure, age about thirty, seated on a bank at the foot of a clump of trees, directed to front, looking to right; whitish low dress with brown ribbon bow at sleeve, and brown girdle; left hand upraised and holding spray of flowers; fair or powdered curly hair partly covering forehead and ears. On canvas: Height, 30 inches; width, 25 inches. Collection: Philip Longmore of Stevenage, Hertfordshire. GEORGE ROMNEY (1734-1802) Born at WALTON-IN-FURNESS, LANCASHIRE; DrEDIN KENDALIN 1802 PORTRAIT OF MRS. BLAIR AARY JOHNSON, born in 1750, married Alexander Blair, Esq., of Castle Bromwick, Warwick- shire, died in 1827. She was a well-known atex*=d| figure in the fashionable circles of London during the latter part of the eighteenth century and an intimate friend of Kitty, Duchess of Queensbury ; Mrs. Blair’s manuscript memoir of this eccentric duchess is still extant. Three-quarter length of a handsome woman, seated in a red-upholstered and carved gilt chair, directly to right and looking at spectator; white satin dress with short sleeves, edged with white muslin; large black felt hat ; fair or powdered curly hair; right hand holding a sheet of music, arm resting on lap; left arm on red-covered table on which are two volumes and pad of paper ; scal- loped pillar and red-curtained background ; cloudy sky. On canvas: Height, 50 inches; width, 40 inches. Painted in 1787. Collections: William Beckett, Esq., the banker of Leeds. Ernest W. Beckett, Esq., M. P., his son. JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER,R.A. CI7 7521851) VENICE: DOGANA AND S. GIORGIO MAGGIORE orn in Maiden Lane, London, in 1775, son of a $4, barber ; formed an early friendship with Girtin os; the artist ; entered the Royal Academy School EA) in 178g, and first exhibited at the Academy in 1790; elected A.R.A. in 1799 and RU Agana He died in Chelsea in 1851. A brilliant sun-bathed view of the entrance of the Grand Canal from a spot opposite the step of the Salute; on the right the Dogana, with the church and campanile of San Giorgio seen beyond it ; on the left the buildings of the Riva degli Schiavoni retreating into the distance, the canal crowded with barges, sailing vessels and gon- dolas with people in gaily colored holiday attire; blue sky with fleecy clouds. On canvas: Height, 36 inches; width, 48 inches. Painted in 1834, and exhibited in the Royal Academy of that year, No. 175. The painting was commissioned by Mr. Henry McConnel of Manchester in whose Collection it remained until 1849, when it was sold privately to John Naylor of Leighton Hall, from whom i it was acquired. THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R.A. (1727-1788) PORTRAIT OF THE EARL OF DARNLEY 550 a son of the third Earl of Darnley and Mary, a Le daughter and heiress of John Stoyte, Esq., born A Pe June 30, 1767; educated at Eton and Christ Church College, Oxford; succeeded his father as Serek Earl of Darnley in July, 1 78 i; Di@gh sige married Sept.19,1791, Elizabeth daughter bfthe Right Hon. W. Brownlow; died March 17,1831 at Cobham. Bust, in an oval, of a handsome young man about twenty directed to left and looking at spectator, clean-shaven ; plum-colored coat with high collar and partly buttoned, white lace rufle, and powdered curly wig ; brownish background. On canvas: Height, 30 inches; width, 25 inches. Sir Walter Armstrong, “Gainsborough,” 1898, p. 194, and 1904, p. 263. Exhibited: Burlington House, 1877. Grosvenor Gallery, 1885. Agnew’s Gallery, 1905. Knoedler’s Gallery, 1914. Collection: The Earl of Darnley. JOHN HOPPNER, R.A. (1758-1810) PORTRAIT GROUP OF THE HOPPNER CHILDREN group of three whole-length figures of golden- oS) haired children by a shallow pool in an open, 73) uneven landscape. On the left, Richard Bel- grave Hoppner, apparently the last to leave the water and entirely nude, is pulling on his stocking. The child in the centre, Henry Parkyns Hoppner, is partly dressed. The eldest boy, Catharine Hampden Hoppner, is standing to right and has just finished dress- ing; he is inared suit with a broad white collar, white socks, black shoes, and is looking at the spectator. Rich autumnal scenery forms the background; to left, clouds through which the rays of the sun are piercing. On canvas: Height, 60 inches; width, 50 inches. Engraved in mezzotint by James Ward in 1799. The picture was left by Mrs. Hoppner, who died in 1827, to her eldest son, and it remained in the family until 1893. JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER,R.A. (1775-1851) KEELMEN HEAVING IN COALS BY MOONLIGHT PX TENSIVE view of the river Tyne in the glow of g moonlight; on the right colliers are filling the bunkers of sailing ships from barges, a weird effect being added to the scene by numerous flaring torches; to left full-rigged ships are going and coming; inthe forepart of the picture are a buoy and a roughly constructed raft. On canvas: Height, 36 inches; width, 48 inches. Painted in 1835, and exhibited in the Royal Academy of that year, No. 24. The picture was commissioned by Mr. Henry McConnel of Manchester. Exhibited: Burlington House, London, 1887. Knoedler’s Galleries, New York, 1914 Collections: H. McConnel of Manchester until 1849, when it was sold privately to John Naylor of Leighton Hall, from whom it was recently acquired. GEORGE ROMNEY (1734-1802) LADY ARABELLA WARD —= HE was the younger daughter of William Cros- Ss bie, Baron Beant ae became Viscount D Ds Cannieint 771 and Parl of Glasndenne 17706 << of Ardfert Abbey, County Kerry, Ireland. The ee family has been eminent in Ireland for two or more centuries. The family into which Lady Arabella married on becoming the bride of the Hon. Edward Ward in 1783 was even more ancient than that of her own, for it isof Norman origin. His father was advanced to Viscount Bangor in 1781. Lady Arabella began to sit for her portrait on March 15, 1783, the month after her marriage, and three other sit- tings are recorded to May 31. Then there comes a lapse of over four years, during which interval two of Lady Arabella’s children were born, and the sittings were not resumed until November 1g, 1787, and six other sittings are recorded up to January 12, 1788. On canvas: Height, 30 inches; width, 25 inches. Purchased from the present Viscount Bangor, Castleward, Down- patrick, County Down, Ireland. STR ae a No irk ae P..Ry Ag (1723-1792) PORTRAIT OF LADY CORNEWALL (CATHERINE, Born In 1752, MarRIED, in 1771, Sir GeorcE AmyAnbD; DieD 1835) Se CCRT length figure, age about twenty- (| five to thirty, seated on a stone bench near an cokes 2) open balcony, directed and looking to left; =! white low dressand lace neckerchief, black lace shawl across shoulders; powdered hair in curls, large -broad-brimmed black felt hat with ribbon rosette and white feathers; both hands resting on lap; to right rich crimson curtain, to left trees and large sculptured vase seen through balcony; cloudy sky effects. On canvas: Height, 50 inches; width, 40 inches. Sat in 1780; the second and finished picture paid: for June 6, 1786, £73 10s. The first and unfinished portrait, 1779, belonged to Miss Alice Duff-Gordon in 1884. “A splendid example of English patrician beauty of the eighteenth century.” —YWV. Roberts. Collection: Rev. Sir George H. Cornwall, the grandson of the Lady. THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R.A. (1727-1788) PORTRAIT OF THE HON. MRS. GRAHAM Rea ARY, second daughter of ninth Lord Cathcart ; pea! born March 1,1757; married December 26, J af 1774, Sir Thomas Graham of Balgowan, after- wade t=} wards Lord Lynedoch, one of the heroes of the Peninsular campaign ; died on shipboard off Hyeres, June 26, 1702: Half figure, standing in the open, directed slightly to right and looking to left, lilac shot-silk low dress edged with gold braid and trimmed with narrow white lace, pearl drop at centre of corsage; arms crossed, holding fold of dress in right hand; powdered hair with pearl band, strand falling over right shoulder ; trees in back- ground ; blue sky with white clouds to right. On canvas: Height, 3514 inches; width, 2714 inches. Painted in 1775-76. The artist’s unfinished whole-length portrait of the same lady as ““The Housemaid” is in the National Gallery, London. Exhibited: British Institution, 1860. National Portraits, South Kensington, 1867. Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1906. Burlington House, 1907. Cent Portraits de Femmes, Igto. Knoedler’s Gallery, 1912. Knoedler’s Gallery, 1914. Collections: Lord Lynedoch. A. G. Maxtone-Graham of Cultoquhey, Perthshire. SIR JOSHUA REY NO#DS;*P2 Ree PU gon ng?) PORTRAIT OF NELLY O'BRIEN aeqne of the most celebrated demi-mondaines of & ay the eighteenth century, of whom very few 4: biographical facts are known. She sat to Sir sO), Joshua frequently from 1760-1767. Half figure, seated to front and looking at spectator; blue-and-white-striped low dress, black lace shaw]; arms crossed on lap and holding a little white spaniel; flat crowned ‘“‘Woffington”’ straw hat trimmed with light blue ribbon; pearl necklace; background, rustic wall, pillar with climbing plants. On canvas: Height, 30 inches; width, 25 inches. This portrait 1s a small version of the picture in the Wallace Collection, London. Collections: William Angerstein, 1874. William Sterling Crawford, who died in 1883 and who left it to his wife Agnes, Duchess of Montrose. EL GRECO (DOMENICO THEOTOCOPULD (Between 1545 and 1550-1614) ST. MARTIN AND THE BEGGAR qORN probably in Crete between 1 $45 and 15 40, died in Toledo in 1614. He studied very likely under Titian and was influenced by e y /) ) Le 2! Tintoretto. A whole-length life-size figure of the saint as a young man in armor on a white charger walking to right. His head of yellow, curly hair is uncovered; his elab- orately patterned suit of armor is richly damascened with gold, and his ruff and cuffs are starched and pleated. With his left hand he holds the bridle, and with his sword in his right is about to divide his green mantle, which partly covers the nearly nude figure of the youth- ful beggar, who is standing to left and who holds his portion of the garment with his left hand. Through the legs of the horse is seen a view of Toledo. Blue sky with masses of clouds. Signed in full in Greek characters, at bottom to the right. On canvas: Height, 761% inches; width 40% inches. Painted 1597-99, for the chapel of San José, Toledo. The original contract is dated November 9g, 1597. A smaller version of this subject is in The Art Institute, Chicago. The picture remained in the chapel of San José, in Toledo, until 1906, when it was sold by the authorities of the chapel to a dealer in Paris, of whom Mr. Widener purchased it. EL GRECO (DOMENICO THEOTOCOPULI) (Between 1545 and 1550-1614) THE VIRGIN WITH SANTA INES AND SANTA TECLA eaasque Virgin, enthroned and among clouds, hold- a om ing the nearly nude golden-haired Tarant on SS) her lap, occupies the centre of the picture. sae} She wears a rich red dress, blue mantle, and white lace head-dress. The Child halde in His tight hand the index finger of His mother’s right hand. ‘Two youthful angels, one in green and the other in pink robes, are in adoration on either side of the holy group, and above are heads of cherubim. Below are two female saints; to left one, in pale blue with golden cloak, sup- ports a palm leaf, her right hand resting on a carved lion’s head ; to right, in deep scarlet cloak, holds a lamb. Signed with initials in Greek characters on the temple of the carved lion. On canvas: Height, 761 inches; width, 40% inches. Painted 1597-99, for the chapel of San José, Toledo, together with “St. Martin and the Beggar.” (See note to this picture.) JAN STEEN (1626-1679) THE MERRYMAKERS orn at Leyden about 1626, died there in 1679. Studied at the University. Pupil of Nicolaes Knupfer and Jan van Gogen. Greatest Dutch genre-painter. | G