Framed, hand-painted oil painting shows it of Dr. Thomas Reynolds (1820-1859) standing half-length beside a velvet covered table with the tools of the medical profession known as portrait accoutrements beside the standing male; accoutrements include: book of anatomy, skull, and book of letters; man…
Framed, hand-painted oil painting shows it of Dr. Thomas Reynolds (1820-1859) standing half-length beside a velvet covered table with the tools of the medical profession known as portrait accoutrements beside the standing male; accoutrements include: book of anatomy, skull, and book of letters; man's hand rests on a skull, ink stand and feather quill; painted on millboard; original gilt mitred frame has piece of green felt attached to bottom portion of back of frame to prevent scratches to the wall; original paper label on back and also handwritten provenance.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Portrait painted for Dr. Thomas Reynolds (MB Edinburgh, MD McGill) and his daughter Francis Mary Reynolds inherited the portrait and then to her son Dr. Thomas Malloch (Queen's BA 1948); his wife Mrs. Barbara Malloch is the donor. Full details of Dr. Reynolds' and his descendents' life and geneological information available in file.
Date based on years Dr. Reynolds was in medical school, style of clothing and from expert examination by Agnes Etherington Art Centre staff.
Material
wood: brown
paint: gilt, brown, yellow, red, cream
fabric: green
paper: brown
ink: black, blue
Inscriptions
Printed on paper label: "PREPARED MILLBOARD // WINSOR & NEWTON // ARTISTS' COLOURMEN // To Her Majesty // and to // HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT // 38, RATHBONE PALCE, LONDON"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B8
Dimension Notes
Length 46.0 cm x Width 38.7 cm x Depth 4.8 cm
Condition Remarks
Painting may have been restored, varnish is fresh looking. Overall excellent condition although one depression on right side of millboard beside frame; frame does not appear to be restored, gilding is relatively fresh. Green felt is worn, with numerous holes and loose portion is stretched.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Person
Reference Comments
Examination report from staff at Agnes Etherington Art Centre; Mrs. Barbara Malloch; "The Family of Thomas Reynolds M.B., M.D. of Brockville, Ontario,"by R.E. (Bob) Huggard
Research Facts
Portrait appears to be painted by an UK artist, possibly Scottish or English; consistant with British portraiture of the 1830s-40s period; unsigned image, small size and painted on millboard instead of canvas was typical of lesser known artist and purchaser was of modest means as a medical student; nice detail in painting and does not appear to be a 'stock' painting with purchasers face added and customization. Frame appears to be pine, not determined whether it is Scottish or Canadian. Although the artist is unknown, this is a fine example of traditional medical portraiture, particularly because it was done for a young physician in the early part of a career in a country where formal medical training was still emerging. A complete geneology study of Dr. Thomas Reynolds completed in 2009 by R. E. (Bob) Huggard, Toronto, titled, "The Family of Thomas Reynolds M.B., M.D. of Brockville, Ontario," available in Reference Files.
Exhibit History
Aug 2007: "Portrait of a Medical Man"; MHC Churchill Gallery; Exhibit: "When Medicine Met Science" Museum exhibit, "Portraying the Profession," August 2007.