Old Master and British Works on Paper, including Portrait Miniatures from the Pohl-Ströher Collection

Alfred Edward Chalon, R.A.

Portrait of John Ruskin (1819-1900)

Restricted Species

Lot Closed

December 4, 05:29 PM GMT

Estimate

5,000 - 8,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Alfred Edward Chalon, R.A.

Geneva 1780 - 1860 London

Portrait of John Ruskin (1819-1900)

Watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, housed in a red leather case;

inscribed on the backing card verso: Painted by / A.E.Chalon / R.A. / London / 1836

46 by 38 mm.

The miniature is generally very well preserved. There is a suggestion of a diagonal scratch running from the top left hand corner down toward the face, however this is very minor indeed. The leather case is in good condition. The miniature is unglazed.

The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.

This lot contains ivory. Due to recent changes in the laws of many countries (e.g. US, France) Sotheby’s recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory. Please note that Sotheby’s will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby’s assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby’s shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer’s inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

Geoffrey W. Kippax (1926-1991);
by family descent to the present owner

James S. Dearden, John Ruskin: A Life in Pictures, Sheffield Academic Press, 1999, pp. 27-28, no. 8, pl. 3

Lancaster, Ruskin Library, Lancaster University, The Portraits of John Ruskin, 2000, case 2

This portrait is the first known image of the adolescent Ruskin and it was first recorded in the book John Ruskin: A Life in Pictures (1999). In this publication the author, James Dearden wrote: 'This is Ruskin the published poet, the writer on geology, the champion of Turner. In 1836 Ruskin was attending the Rev. Thomas Dale's lectures on early English literature at King's College, he was taking watercolour lessons from Copley Fielding and drawing lessons from Charles Runciman. In October he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, and in December he took his final examinations at King's College..... The circumstances under which the miniature was painted are not recorded. However, in 1836 preparations were being made for Ruskin to go to Oxford in January of the following year. He was to be accompanied by his mother who would live in Oxford during his terms at Christ Church; his father would remain in London or travelling the country in connection with his sherry business, joining his family at Oxford when he had the opportunity. I would suggest that the miniature, in its leather case, was painted as part of these preparations, for John James to have with him during his separation from his family.'¹

We are grateful to Professor Stephen Wildman for his help when cataloguing this lot.

¹. J.S. Dearden, John Ruskin: A Life in Pictures, Sheffield Academic Press, 1999, p. 27