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Description: | Acquisition: gift from Dr Macbride, gift from Dr Bull, gift from Dr Cramer, gift from Dr Cardwell, 1840 Description: Three-quarter length, standing to left; grey hair; long lace cravat and ruffles; heavy black brocaded silk Chancellor's robe with gold lace trimming on collar, facings and sleeves, over black velvet clothes; his left hand hangs by side holding black velvet cap with gold tassel, his right clasps an upright brass bound volume standing on a red-covered table to left, on which are also a bundle of papers tied up with red tape and inscribed 'Response of Chancellor of the University of Oxford'; red curtain behind to right, to left, a view of Christ Church seen through window. On 2 Nov 1840, Edward Cardwell, Principal of St Alban's Hall, wrote to the Vice-Chancellor: ' "Four individuals, Dr. Macbride, Dr Bull, Dr. Cramer and myself have requested Mr Phillips formerly Professor of Painting in the Royal Academy to provide us with a Portrait of the Late Lord. Grenville, in the hope that it might be placed among the Chancellors of the University in the Public Picture Gallery. The Portrait is nearly completed, and we have now only to beg that the Board of Heads of House and Proctors would be pleased to accept it on behalf of the University. You would much gratify us if you would lay this Petition before the Board, and recommend it by your own approval..." It was agreed that this offer be gratefully accepted.' (Hebdomadal Board Minutes, 2 Nov 1840, Oxford University Archives, WP gamma/24/5 p.224) In his sitter book, Phillips noted that this portrait was commissioned as a 'Copy (head & fig[ur]e from picture Coll of Surgeons for the University of Oxford...no.814... l.h.l [long half length]' (T. Phillips, entry dated 15 Nov 1840, ms 'Copy of the catalogue of the works of Thomas Phillips, transcribed by J.D. Milner, 1899, MS96, National Portrait Gallery Archive, London) Visiting Oxford in 1874, George Scharf, Keeper of the National Portrait Gallery, observed 'warts on face faintly marked' (G. Scharf, 'Trustee Sketchbooks', Oxon II, p.13, National Portrait Gallery Archive, London). The prime version, painted in 1810 (Royal College of Surgeons, London), was engraved by James Fittler in 1812. Phillips's original portrait was painted to commemorate Grenville's election as Chancellor of the University in 1810. The 'Response of the Chancellor' which lies on the table beside him represents Grenville's reply, during his installation as Chancellor, to the Public Orator's speech in commemoration of the previous Chancellor and in felicitation of the new Chancellor. His appointment as Trustee of the Hunterian Museum in 1811, may have occasioned the acquisition of the portrait by the Royal College of Surgeons. Grenville, 'concerned that the shortage of college places strengthened the case for the establishment of a university in London, used his patronage as Chancellor to install active and energetic principals into the [expanding] halls.' (M.C. Curthoys, 'The "unreformed" colleges', in The History of the University of Oxford, VI, ed. M.G. Brock and M.C. Curthoys, 1997, p.148). These included three of the four donors of the portrait: John Macbride, Principal of Magdalen Hall, J.A. Cramer, Principal of New Inn Hall, and John Cardwell, Principal of St Alban Hall. John Bull, Christ Church, became a proctor in 1820. The portrait was transferred to the Examination Schools by Act of Convocation: That the Curators of the Bodleian Library be authorized to transfer, and the Curators of the Schools to receive, the portraits of Sir William Dolben, Lord Grenville, Speaker Bromley, and Peregrine Palmer now hanging in the Picture Gallery and elsewhere in the Bodleian Library' (Oxford University Gazette, 8 June 1910, pp.764-765) External Link: Oxford Portraits website | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: by Thomas Phillips | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=887... | Go to resource |
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