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John Callcott Horsley, 'Portrait of Martin Colnaghi', 1889

About the work

Overview

Martin Colnaghi (1821–1908) was a picture dealer and collector with a keen interest in old master paintings, especially Dutch and Flemish pictures. He is portrayed in his outdoor clothes, sitting on a buttoned red leather seat in front of a large gilt-framed landscape oil painting; he has removed his top hat and one glove but not his coat, suggesting that he is not at home. Perhaps he is visiting the National Gallery.

Colnaghi was a considerable benefactor to the Gallery, leaving it five paintings and the sum of £75,000 in his will. The funds were used to buy 13 paintings, including works by Cezanne and Delacroix.

One of four known portraits of Colnaghi, this picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1889. It was donated to the Gallery by Colnaghi’s widow, Amy, after his death in 1908.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Portrait of Martin Colnaghi
Artist dates
1817-1903
Date made
1889
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
111.8 × 87 cm
Acquisition credit
Presented by Mrs Martin H. Colnaghi, 1908
Inventory number
NG2286
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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