Portrait of Master Lewis Farley Johnston

License image

Henry Pelham , American, 1749-1806

Title

Date1779

MediumWatercolour on ivory miniature

Dimensions

4.7 x 3.8 cm

Signedlower right: H P/1779

Credit LineBequeathed, 2004

Object numberNGI.19615

DescriptionBoston-born Henry Pelham was the son of a mezzotint engraver, Peter Pelham (1697-1751) and his third wife Mary Singleton Copley. His half-brother, John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), the distinguished American artist, taught Henry the art of miniature painting. Around 1778 he visited his maternal relatives in County Clare. While based in Ireland he worked as a cartographer and painted miniature portraits of people connected with the O’Briens, Barons of Inchiquin, of Dromoland Castle. This portrait depicts an O’Brien kinsman, Master Lewis Farley Johnston, who later became a judge on the island of Trinidad.
Inscriptionon sticker (on verso of miniature frame): MASTER LEWIS FARLEY JOHNSTON FROM DROMOLAND CASTLE, LORD INCHIQUIN
ProvenanceBaron Inchiqiun, Dromoland, County Clare; bequeathed, Private Collection, December 2004Exhibition History18th, 19th and 20th Century Irish Paintings, Gorry Gallery, Dublin, 1997

Taking Stock: Acquisitions 2000-2010, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, 13 March 2010 - 25 July 2010