Reverend Sir Abraham Elton, 5th Bt (1755-1842)
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1840
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
762 x 635 mm (30 x 25 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Clevedon Court, North Somerset
NT 624141
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Reverend Sir Abraham Elton, 5th Bt (1755-1842) by Sir Martin Archer Shee (1769-1850), circa 1840. Inscribed: Revnd Sir Abraham / Elton Bart. Born / 1755 Died 1852. A portrait of the son of Sir Abraham Isaac Elton, 4th Bt (1718-1790) and Elizabeth Read (1725-1755 ) as an elderly man, half-length, turned to the left and gazing very directly at spectator, seated on a gilt and plus red chair, holding a book on his left hand. Grey/white natural hair, wearing a black coat with high collar, white shirt and white stock. Large red plush curtain in background. He married (i) Elizabeth Durbin (1756-1822) and (ii) Mary Stewart.
Provenance
Purchased from Lady Margaret Ann Elton (1915 – 1995), 1981 with the help of grants from the V&A Purchase Fund and the NHMF
Marks and inscriptions
Top right: Inscribed: Revnd. Sir Abraham / Elton Bart. Born / 1755 Died 1852
Makers and roles
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Sir Henry Raeburn, RA (Stockbridge 1756 – Edinburgh 1823), artist
References
Clevedon Court [The National Trust] revised 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979, p.26: "...The Great Hall...Over the door to the 18th century stairs on the fireplace wall, is the Rev. Sir Abraham, fifth Baronet, by Sir Martin Archer Shee. Bible in hand, he looks out apocalyptically from a background of crimson hangings."