Portrait of James Ferguson

Made:: 1776-1786 in England, Scotland and United Kingdom

artist:: Unattributed

Portrait of James Ferguson (oil painting; portrait)

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Framed oil painting of astronomer and writer James Ferguson (1710-1776) by artist unknown dated to about 1776 or later. It has formerly been attributed to Allan Ramsay and then David Allan.

Ferguson is shown seated in a garret beside a table, a telescope at the window, globe and writings beside him.

This painting appeared in an exhibition of Scottish National Portraits held by the Board of Trustees for Manufactures in Scotland in 1884 in anticipation of a permanent Scottish National Portrait Gallery. At that point it was attributed to Ramsay and lent by a David Munn. It was acquired by the Science Museum in 1996 to accompany the museum's important collection of 'Fergusoniana'.

Details

Category:: Art

Object Number:: 1996-583

Materials:: oil paint on canvas and walnut veneer, gilt rebate trim

Measurements:: overall: 880 mm x 720 mm x 40 mm,
frame: 845 mm x 715 mm x 20 mm,
image: 760 mm x 635 mm

type:: oil painting and portrait

credit:: Purchased (Sotheby's)

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Parts

Portrait of James Ferguson

Oil painting on canvas of astronomer and writer James Ferguson (1710-1776) by artist unknown dated to about 1776 or later. It has formerly been attributed to Allan Ramsay and then David Allan.

Ferguson is shown seated in a garret beside a table, a telescope at the window, globe and writings beside him.

Measurements:: overall: 880 mm x 720 mm x 40 mm,

Materials:: oil paint on canvas

Object Number:: 1996-583/1

type:: oil painting and portrait

Frame for Portrait of James Ferguson

Historic frame for portrait of James Ferguson (1710-1776). Includes a cartouche at bottom centre with the inscription 'James Ferguson Astronomer 1710 1776 By Allan Ramsay. Lent by Mr J. G. Gordon Munn.' A label on the back shows that the portrait was lent by a David Munn to a loan exhibition of Scottish National Portraits held by the Board of Trustees for Manufactures in Scotland in 1884 in anticipation of a permanent Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The tech file shows that the painting was reframed for display in 2000 in dark veneer with gilt trim. This gilt frame was clearly in place by 1884 for the Scottish Portrait exhibition but tears to the exhibition label suggest it had been removed at least once before the painting came to the museum. Given the frames age and historic label it should be retained as part of the painting.