Museum Objects Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Fine Art Collection |
Culture |
Scottish |
School |
Inverclyde |
Catalogue Number |
1978.369 |
Creator |
Fleming, John (1792-1845) |
Role |
Artist |
Title |
Henry Bell (1767-1830) |
Date |
1826 |
Object Name |
Painting, Oil |
Description |
Oil painting on canvas entitled 'Henry Bell (1767-1830)' by John Fleming (1792 Glasgow - 1845 Greenock). Signed and dated 'J. Fleming pinxt 1826' by the artist at the lower left. The work shows a portrait of a man facing right. He wears a dark coat, tan waistcoat and white shirt and cravat. His right hand is visible holding a pair of compasses. He has receding light fair hair and sideburns. This painting was commissioned by the Watt Club of Greenock in 1826. This work was conserved with the generous assistance of the Scottish Museums Council. |
Dimensions |
H-78 W-65.2 cm |
Material |
Wood/Canvas/Oil Paint |
Medium |
Oil on canvas |
Technique |
Oil painting |
Signature Location |
lower left |
Signed Name |
J. Fleming pinxit 1826 |
Acquisition |
Watt Library, Greenock 1978 |
People |
Bell, Henry, 1767-1830, engineer and entrepreneur Fleming, John, 1792-1845, artist |
Bibiographic Ref. |
1838 The portrait is described as being in the possession of the Watt Club, Greenock (Greenock Advertiser 22.01.1838 page 2) In George Williamson's 'Letters respecting the Watt Family published in 1840 the painting is cited on page 34: the "Watt Club," of which Mr Bell was a member, caused a portrait of Mr Bell to be painted by Mr Fleming, another of their number, to mark their sense of Mr Bell's merits. The portrait is hung up in the Town Hall of Greenock. Listed as no.222 on page 68 in the catalogue of the Palace of History Exhibition, Glasgow 1911. Cited in James Watt Centenary Exhibition Catalogue 1919. 1936: Listed in the catalogue of the James Watt Bi-centenary exhibition, Watt Library, Greenock as item no.12 'Portrait of Henry Bell' by John Fleming. 2014: Recorded and illustrated in Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in Strathclyde (published by the Public Catalogue Foundation 2014) ISBN 978-1-909475-26-7 Section on paintings in the McLean Museum and Art Gallery page 66. |
Search Terms |
Comet, paddle steamer, 1812 Comet, paddle steamer, 1822 |