Portrait of Sir William Agnew, 1st Bt. (1825-1910)

Sir William Agnew, Bt., the eldest son of the founder Thomas, went into partnership with his father in 1840 and retired in 1895. He became the pre-eminent dealer of Victorian England and was responsible for making the firm into an International dealership in Old Master paintings as well as contemporary art. His most famous client was Sir E.C. Guinness, later the first Lord Iveagh, who bought approximately two hundred and forty paintings and drawings from him; of the sixty-three in Kenwood House, sixty-two came from Agnew's. He was closely associated with many artists such as Sir Luke Fildes (see lot 37), Fred Walker, G.F. Watts, Sir Frank Holl (see lot 35) and Sir Hubert von Herkomer who all painted or drew him. As well as his activities as an art dealer, Sir William was M.P. for East Lancashire from 1880 to 1886 and was created a baronet by his friend William Gladstone. He was also chairman of the magazine Punch. At the William Wells sale in May 1890 a contemporary account describes him: 'Christie's was crammed full on Saturday afternoon, though the sale could have been conducted quite as well in a four-wheeled cab, for Mr Agnew bought nearly everything. Roughly speaking he spent nearly £50,000 out of £77,000 which the sale produced.You can't see Mr Agnew's jovial countenance, you can't hear Mr Agnew's formidable voice, but that hat of his holds you like the eye of the ancient mariner. Every bob of that hat means a thousand. It is splendid'.