Jeffrey Amherst Miniature

Only five portraits of Amherst were known to have been painted when he was the sitter, this miniature being one. This portrait was painted at the time of his death.

There are only two portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds that use an identical face and profile, only changing the scene in the rest of the portrait; these were executed in 1765 and 1768 (the second portrait involved sittings on only two days in 1767 and one day in 1768). There is also a portrait of Amherst by Gainsborough, c.1785, and one by Blackburn, done in Boston when Amherst spend a week there in 1758. The portrait by Blackburn was the property of John Hancock who inherited the item from his uncle, Thomas Hancock (who furnished supplies for the Louisburg expedition in 1758.) it was auctioned off in 1817, at the residence of Mrs. Scott, John Hancock’s widow. Of these portraits I have identified one later copy of the Blackburn, two later copies of the Gainsborough, and a number of copies or variants after the Reynolds. The original 1765 Reynolds, the original Gainsborough, and the original Blackburn are all in the collection of Amherst college. Copies of the Reynolds and Gainsborough hang in major London Galleries. I have examined all of the originals at length, and all (including the miniature) portray Amherst’s characteristic nose and facial mole except for the Blackburn which has had the mole largely covered during conservation. Original photographs of the Blackburn before conservation allow us to see that the conservator took certain liberties.

The miniature is a significant piece for a number of reasons. The subject is of tremendous historical significance to both Americans and the British. Besides being one of a limited number of portraits, it was the last portrait of Amherst, being painted and worn at the time of his death. Additionally, his woven hair on the reverse is to my knowledge the only such sample in existence. The miniature has the initials J and A engraved at the top of the frame (lower karat gold), and a P and 80 ½ engraved at the lower corners. P standing for painted at 80 1/2, the age of the sitter, in this case the age at death (Amherst was born on January 19, 1717 and passed away on August 3, 1797).

Tradition held that it was worn by William Pitt Amherst, the nephew of Jeffrey, whom he helped raise and who inherited Jeffrey’s title, at Jeffrey Amherst’s funeral. Documentation exists that William’s wife did hair work such as that on the miniature and although I have found no evidence as yet that she did this piece it is still interesting to consider.

Provenance: Lord (Earl) Amherst, Cadogan Place, London

Purchased 1968-1971.

Earl Amherst sold much of his collection to Amherst College, and several pieces including this miniature to other buyers. He specifically did not want the British Museum to purchase any of the items and was very vocal about that.

Amherst portrait bought by Pratt in 1932 was for the sum of $50,000.

Other scan is of Amherst by Blackburn, pre-restoration.

As with all of our pieces, in ‘as found’ condition.
Very nice overall condition.
Measures 2 ¾ H (4 ½ H with chains extended) x 2 ¼ W