Mrs. Allan Maconochie
James Northcote·1789
Historical Context
This portrait of Mrs. Allan Maconochie was painted by James Northcote in 1789, during the period when the Devon-born artist had established himself as a successful portrait painter in London. A pupil and biographer of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Northcote combined Reynolds's grand manner portraiture with a more direct, less idealized approach to his sitters. His portraits of women from the professional classes provide valuable records of Georgian society beyond the aristocratic elite.
Technical Analysis
Northcote's oil technique on canvas follows the Reynolds tradition of warm, unified tonality with careful attention to the sitter's expression. The handling of fabrics and lace demonstrates solid academic training, though with a slightly stiffer touch than his master's.
Provenance
Allan Maconochie (died 1816), later first lord Meadowbank, husband of the sitter; by descent to Sir Evan Maconochie; sold Christie’s London, December 17, 1926, no. 128, as Mrs. Alexander Maconochie, to Agnew, London, for 900 gns; sold by Agnew to Horace Trumbauer, November 1927, and bought back by Agnew, December 1927 [according to Agnew’s stock books; see letter of March 19, 1993, from Gabriel Naughton to Malcolm Warner, in curatorial file]; sold by Agnew to F.W. Clayton, March 1928 [see letter cited above]. F.C. Daniell, London by 1932 [see Exeter 1932]. Neumans, Paris, 1936. Daniel H. Farr Co., New York, also in 1936 [this and previous location indicated on annotated mounts of photographs in the Witt Library, London]. Mrs. Norman Armour, Jr., New York; sold Parke-Bernet, New York, January 25, 1958, no. 289 (ill.), to Newhouse Galleries, New York; sold by Newhouse to Mr. Denison B. Hull, Winnetka, 1960 [letter of Adam Williams, Newhouse Galleries, September 29, 1993 in curatorial file]; given to the Art Institute by Mr. and Mrs. Denison B. Hull, 1974.
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