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Open Content Program
The Birmingham Museum of art makes available digital images of works in the Museum’s collection believed to be in the public domain. Images are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial. Users do not need to contact the Museum for authorization to use these images. They are available through the Online Collection at artsbma.org/collection. See detailed instructions for specific work types below.
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- Titles E. Finlay, Esquire (Proper)@E. Finley, Esquire (Former title)
- Artist Sir Henry Raeburn, Scotland, 1756 - 1823
- Medium oil on canvas
- Dimensions 30 x 25 in. (76.2 x 63.5 cm) frame: 36 1/4 × 31 1/4 × 1 5/8 in. (92.1 × 79.4 × 4.1 cm)
- Credit Line Museum purchase, 1960.3
- Work Type painting
- Classification Paintings
- On View
- Signature Unsigned
- Marks Stretcher stamp, verso, top stretcher bar, center, printed metal label: ICA SPRING STRETCHERS / 344 S. Professor Street / OBERLIN, OHIO 44074
- Inscription Verso, top frame rail, center left, black paint: 249 Verso, backing board, encapsulated (formerly on frame rail), printed label: LADY KNIGHTELY OF FAWSL Verso, backing board, encapsulated (formerly on tacking margin, top stretcher, center), stamped tape: VIS [illegible] / AUG [illegible] / 249 [in ink; recorded in February 17, 1987 as reading: “VISCOUNT FINLEY / AUG 1810 / 249”] Verso, backing board, encapsulated (formerly on stretcher bar), red ink on ripped label: M / Nomas / B. 1714 d. 179[ripped] / Painted by Rom[ripped] / ather [rippled] Verso, backing board, encapsulated, printed paper label: Thos. Agnew & Sons Ltd. / No. 20262 / by Appointment to the Late King George VI / London / 43 Old Bond Street / Piccadilly. W. / Birmingham [in ink] / U-S-A [in ink] Verso, backing board, encapsulated, ink on paper: [faded]rs Gooden & Fox / Printsellers, Publishers / and / Dealers in Works of Art / 57 Pall Mall, S.W. / opposite Marlborough House.) Verso, backing board, encapsulated (formerly top frame rail, center), printed label: PALACE OF ART / North East Coast Exhibition / Newcastle-upon-Tyne / 1929. Verso, backing board, encapsulated, printed label: PALACE OF ART / North East Coast Exhibition / Newcastle-upon-Tyne / 1929.
- Provenance Lady Louisa Knightley (1842-1913), at least after 1892 [see note 1]. Auctioned at Christie’s, London, December 12, 1908, lot 69 [see note 2]; purchased by dealer Gooden and Fox, London, and retained until at least 1911 [see note 3]. Lord Ridley [see note 4]; dealer Thomas Agnew and Sons, London [see note 5]; purchased by the Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama, January, 1960
1. Her name on a label formerly on the frame. In 1892, her husband was knighted, and she received the title of Lady.
2. Listed in Baily, J. T. Herbert. “In the Sale Room.” The Connoisseur 23 (January-April 1909): 141.
3. According to annotated copy of catalogue at the Getty Research Institute. Purchase in 1908 recorded in Georg Biermann, “Von den Auktionen,” Der Cicerone 1 (1909): p. 41. In 1911, Gooden and Fox was listed as the owner in James Greig, Sir Raeburn, R. A. His life and Works with a Catalogue of His Pictures, (London: The Connoisseur, Otto Limited, 1911), p. 45. See object file.
4. According to bill of sale from Agnew and Sons to Birmingham Museum of Art, “Lord Ridley” previously owned 1960.3. This person is likely Matthew White Ridley, 3rd Viscount Ridley (1902-1964), London.
5. Thomas Agnew and Sons stock no. 20262.