Anthony Morris Storer

Anthony Morris Storer, the diplomat and collector, appears in this 1790 portrait at the Museo del Prado, painted during Shee"s early years in London. Storer, a wealthy and cultivated man who served in diplomatic posts in Paris, was known for his friendship with the elder Pitt and his collection of prints and drawings. The portrait"s presence in the Prado, like the other Storer portrait by Shee, reflects the dispersal of British portraits across European collections.

This early portrait shows Shee"s youthful style, still developing toward the confident professionalism of his mature work. The palette shows the influence of Reynolds in its warm tonality, while the somewhat careful handling reveals an artist still building his technical fluency. The characterization of Storer"s cultivated features is nevertheless convincing, showing Shee"s natural gift for portrait likeness.