Portrait of the Reverend Thomas Horne, Rector of St. Katherine's, London Docks

Details

Johann Zoffany, R.A. (1733-1810)
Portrait of the Reverend Thomas Horne, Rector of St. Katherine's, London Docks
oil on canvas
50½ x 40 in. (128.3 x 101.6 cm.)
in a carved and gilded 18th century frame

Provenance

By descent in the Horne family.
Mrs. Horne, The Lodge, Drinkston, Bury St. Edmunds, by 1920.
Captain Horne (+); H.C. Wolton sale, Rougham Village Hall, near Bury St. Edmunds, 19 February 1932, lot 152.
Sir Malcolm Sargeant.
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 1 February 1952, lot 46 (sold 60 gns.). Mrs. P. Hyde Thompson.

Literature

Lady V. Manners & Dr. G.C. Williamson, John Zoffany R.A., London, 1920, pp. 131 and 206 (the dimensions given, 57 x 46 in., are those of the framed picture).

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The sitter was the father of Reverend Thomas Horne of Chiswick, who married Zoffany's second eldest daughter, Cecilia Clementina Elizabeth (born c.1778) in August 1802. The story of their marriage is recounted by a family friend, Mrs. Papendiek; the couple married despite the disapproval of both families, however Zoffany soon recommended a reconciliation and it is probable that his portrait of the elder Reverend Thomas Horne followed shortly after, described by Mrs. Papendiek as, '...painted...with spirit, and in his first style of excellence. It was a capital likeness and was exhibited.' (V. Manners & G.C. Williamson, op. cit., pp. 129-131).

We are grateful to Mary Lightbown for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.

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