M48: Unknown Man
| Museum number | M48 |
| Title | Unknown Man |
| Object type | In category: Pictures » Miniature |
| Date | Between 1795 and 1800 |
| People |
By Daniel, Joseph (British miniaturist ca.1760-1803) - Artist(s) Previously attributed to Daniel, Abraham (British miniaturist, engraver, and jeweler, died 1806) - Artist(s) |
| Condition |
Good |
| Dimensions |
8.6 cm height framed 7.0 cm width framed 6.7 cm height sight 5.3 cm width sight |
| Materials & techniques |
In categories: Pictures: Medium » Paint » Watercolour Pictures: Support » Ivory |
| Description | Oval miniature on ivory: head and shoulders portrait of gentleman turned to the left and looking over his left shoulder, head half profile to left. Dark hair powdered and curled, grey eyes, large aquiline nose, slightly open mouth. White cravat and waistcoat, reddish-brown coat with high collar. Sky background. Plain gilt metal frame. | ||||||
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject |
Portrait |
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| Notes | The brothers Joseph and Abraham Daniel, sons of Nochaniah Daniel of Bridgwater, have often been confused, but today it is generally accepted that ‘Daniell of Bath’, the city’s leading miniaturist of the 1790s, was Joseph, while Abraham worked mostly in Plymouth. A few signed miniatures by the brothers have helped to differentiate their styles. The greyish shading on the face, as seen in this miniature, is typical of Joseph's work. This speaking likeness is one of the finest miniatures from Sir William Holburne’s collection. It recalls the telling account of Daniel’s techniques as a salesman written in October 1794 by Katherine Plymley, the daughter of a Shropshire apothecary (quoted in Ellen Wilson, ‘A Shropshire Lady in Bath 1794-1807’ in Bath History, Vol. IV 1992): "This morng. We went to Mr. Daniel’s & after seeing his miniatures return’d to my Father & prevail’d upon him to accompany us. I was much surprized to see Daniel & he greet as if they had met before, in fact Daniel had sat behind him in the box at the play, my Father had apologized to him for keeping his hat on, & had given him some ginger drops & Daniel now told me he was so struck with my Father’s countenance that he … wish’d he had an opportunity to make that gentleman’s portrait." Daniel recognised the importance of developing and promoting a distinctive style. In 1786 (Bath Chronicle, 14 December 1786) he advertised that he would not accept payment for a picture ‘which is not esteemed a striking Likeness and an approved Painting’. Like most miniaturists working and selling in Bath, Daniel moved premises regularly: his addresses include such central locations as Northumberland Buildings, Milsom Street and Abbey Green. |
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| Literature |
Long, Basil, British Miniaturists, London, 1929 p. 115 (as by Abraham Daniel) Foskett, Daphne, "Miniaturists and Silhouettists in Bath", Apollo, vol. 98, Nov. 1973, p.60, fig. 3 Bayne-Powell, Robert, Catalogue of Miniatures in the Holburne Museum and Crafts Study Centre, Bath, Bath, 1994, no. 73, p.22 |
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| Muse theme | The Art of Collecting Art and Culture in Georgian Bath 1714-1830 |
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| Muse chapter |
The History of the Holburne Collection » The Collection » Miniatures
Art and Culture in Georgian Bath 1714-1830 » Art » The Portrait Business Art and Culture in Georgian Bath 1714-1830 » Art » Miniatures and Silhouettes |
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| Gallery Labels |
Joseph Daniel (c.1760-1803) UNKNOWN GENTLEMAN, c.1795-1800 Watercolour on ivory Holburne Museum of Art The brothers Joseph and Abraham Daniel have often been confused, but today it is generally accepted that ‘Daniell of Bath’, the city’s leading miniaturist of the 1790s, was Joseph, while Abraham worked mostly in Plymouth. This speaking likeness is one of the finest miniatures in Sir William Holburne’s collection. 25-6-2002 JOSEPH DANIEL (c. 1760-1803) Unknown man. Watercolour on ivory. Joseph Daniel worked in Bristol and later in Bath for the elegant families who visited the Hot-Wells and the Spa. Joseph also appears to have worked in London. Exhibited at South Kensington, 1865. M48 4-4-2002 |
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| Places associated with the object |
Europe » Northern Europe » British Isles » Great Britain » England » Bath
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| Method of acquisition | Bequest | ||||||
| Provenance | Collection of Sir Thomas William Holburne, by 1867-1874; by descent to Mary Anne Barbara Holburne, 1874; by whom bequeathed to the Museum | ||||||
| Exhibition history |
Title of exhibition: Special Exhibition of Portrait Miniatures Title of exhibition: Pickpocketing the Rich: Portrait painting in Bath 1720-1800 Title of exhibition: Town House Treasures: Sir William Holburne of Bath |
