The London Historians Collection: Item #1
I am in receipt of a parcel from an art dealer. My Christmas present to me. I put a deposit on it months ago, paid some of it off and borrowed some money from a good friend to secure the item. It is a portrait miniature of, I hope, Lord George Gordon (1751 – 1793). Yes, he of the eponymous 1780 riots, the worst in the history of London with the possible exception of Wat Tyler’s do. Apart from a later item of Gordon after he converted to Judaism published in the Jewish Encyclopaedia of 1906 (attributed to Salomon Polack (1759 – 1839)), it’s the only proper portrait of the famous troublemaker that I am aware exists. It is by Lucas Bateman, an obscure miniaturist, and dated 1775. There is a subsequent paper label on the back which reads: ‘Lord George “Gordon Riots” “No Popery” 1780.’
I’m a bit concerned, however, about another label which is damaged with bits missing. Unlike the first label, it is printed and it reads:
Line One: …ascended in a balloon
Line Two: …15 September, 1784. This was th…
Line Three: …to navigat…. atmosphere in Engl…
Line Four: …on.
This can only refer to an Italian diplomat’s assistant Vincenzo Lunardi (1759 – 1806), who on that date took the first ever balloon flight in England from Bunhill Fields artillery ground. I have found just two engravings of Lunardi, in both of which his nose appears quite different from this picture, with a weaker jaw-line. Secondly, if the picture is dated as attributed – 1775 – Lunardi would only have been about 16 and probably unlikely to have been based in England at the time. Gordon, on the other hand, was about 24 at this time, realistically a similar age to the man depicted.
Whatever the case, I’d be happy if the image is of either chap, although I do hope it’s Gordon. More investigations to come!
My sincere thanks to Lucy Inglis for invaluable advice about the purchasing of historical objects, this one in particular.
That miniature is used in the short paper ‘The Gordon Riots, 1780’ by the prof Jerry White – info below.
I have also seen it in a contemporary book on his life – maybe Watson’s. Can’t turn it up now.
About Jerry White
Professor Jerry White teaches modern London history at Birkbeck, University of London. His London in the Twentieth Century won the Wolfson History Prize for 2001 and London in the Nineteenth Century was published to critical acclaim in 2007. The final volume in his modern London trilogy, London in the Eighteenth Century: A Great and Monstrous Thing, will be published by Bodley Head in early 2012. Jerry’s web site is http://www.jerrywhite.co.uk
Thanks, Joseph. I know Jerry – he did an excellent short talk for us on the Gordon Riots back in September – blog post here:
http://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/convivial-history-in-the-pub/
I’ve been meaning to contact Jerry about the picture. Looking forward to his forthcoming book on 18C London.
Mike, Finally got round to checking on the miniature. There is a profile engraving in one book, but no attribution of original or engraver. The book is of the High Treason trial by William Vincent in 1780. The 100-word title starts ‘The trial of the Hon. George Gordon…’
Considering this is 6 years later, and possibly drawn after the trial, there is a small possibility it is the same man. The nose could be similar, and the ear. He was certainly something of a Dandy in 1774, becoming more severe in dress and by the trial wearing his hair straight and unpowdered.
But, even though the later artist is obviously less skilled, the angle of the brow seems too different for it to be the same man. Hope that helps.
Thanks, Joseph. Any chance you could take a picture of scan of that?