- 70
John Linnell 1792-1882
Description
- John Linnell
- Portrait of William Coningham (1815-1884)
- signed and dated l.r.: J. LINNELL. F. 1842.
oil on canvas
Exhibited
Literature
A.T. Story, The Life of John Linnell, 1892, p. 252;
D. Linnell, Blake, Palmer, Linnell and Co., The Life of John Linnell, 1994, pp. 224 - 226
ENGRAVED:
by John Linnell, 1843
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The sitter was born in Penzance in 1815 the son of an Ulster clergyman. Coningham was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge and joined the Royal Dragoons in 1834. He married a clergyman's daughter in 1840, and soon afterwards decided to embark upon a political career, with a particular interest in social reform. In 1847 he unsuccessfully stood for the parliamentary constituency of Brighton, finally being elected ten years later. In 1851 he met George Eliot who was impressed by his politics and wrote of him 'a gentleman... rather aristocratic... a fine, handsome, tall fellow with an honest expression' (Frances Haskell, 'William Coningham and his Collection of Old Masters', in Burlington Magazine, October 1991, p. 676). His political career came to an end in 1864 when he resigned as M.P. for Brighton on the grounds of ill-health. He died in 1884, and his collection of Old Masters were given to the National Gallery.