William Eden, First Lord Auckland, M. P.

Sir Thomas Lawrence (English, 1769–1830)

about 1792–96

Medium/TechniqueOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 44.5 x 34.3 cm (17 1/2 x 13 1/2 in.)

Credit LineGift of Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum

Accession number2005.201

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPaintings

Collections

Europe

ProvenanceMay 15, 1830, possibly Thomas Lawrence estate sale, Christie's, London, lot 15, to Lord Auckland [see note 1]. 1876, Albert Levy (?); April 6, 1876, Levy sale, Christie's, London, lot 294, to Lord William Osbourne Elphinstone (b. 1804 - d. 1888), Kincardineshire, Scotland [see note 2]; probably by descent to the Marquess of Lansdowne, Bowood House [see note 3]; March 7, 1930, Lansdowne sale, Christie's, London, lot 49, to Thomas Agnew and Sons, London [see note 4]; sold by Agnew's to Sir George Sutton, Bt.; until 1992, by descent within the family. April 28, 1992, possibly anonymous sale, Gorringes, Lewes, England, lot 2561, sold. 1992, Thomas Agnew and Sons, London; September 18, 1992, sold by Agnew to Thomas H. Lee, Boston; 2005, gift of Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 27, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] This may be the "Small half-length portrait of a nobleman" purchased by Lord Auckland (or possibly "Roberts") at the Lawrence estate sale. The name(s) of the buyer are annotated in copies of the auction catalogue. "Lord Auckland" may be one of the sitter's sons, George Eden, 1st Earl Auckland and 2nd Baron Auckland (b. 1784 - d. 1849) or Robert John Eden, 3d Baron Auckland (b. 1799-d. 1870). [2] Lord Elphinstone was the grandson of the sitter. While Albert Levy's name is on the title page of the sale catalogue, it is also possible that this lot remained in the Eden family, passed on by descent through Elizabeth Charlotte Eden (daughter of the sitter) to her son, Lord Osbourne-Elphinstone, and was anonymously consigned by him to the 1876 sale, where he could have bought it in. [3] Emily Jane Mercer Elphinstone, Lord Elphinstone's niece by marriage, was the wife of Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. [4] Agnew lent the painting to "The Four Georges" (exh. cat. 25 Park Lane, London, February 23-March 30, 1931), cat. no. 16.