Museum number
A375
Object
Framed oil painting: Garton Orme at the Spinet by Jonathan Richardson the Elder (c.1665–1745), c.1705–8
Description
Garton Orme (1696-1758), of Lavington, Sussex, is depicted wearing a version in miniature of contemporary adult fashion: collarless coat with deep round cuffs and scalloped pocket flaps, shoes with turnover scalloped tongues, a long cravat, and a sword. Since this style can be dated to the years round 1705-9, he muust have been between ten and twelve years old when the portrait was painted. In adult life Garton Orme turned out to be of doubtful character. He was reputed to have killed his first wife, incurred considerable debts, and consequently had to sell half his property. The spinet is of a type most often found towards the end of the seventeenth century. Earlier instruments regularly had a 'broken' octave in the bass, with the omission of certain incidentals which were little used in the music of the period. Towards the end of the century, once the need for these notes arose again, the last two accidental keys were divided into two parts (as shown here) and each half tuned to a different note.This portrait of Garton Orme as a boy has been attributed in its time to Kneller, and to Thomas Hill. Recently a more convincing suggestion has been made by Sir Oliver Millar, attributing it to the elder Jonathan Richardson, who was noted for his success in capturing a likeness, particularly in male portraiture. This very direct gaze of the sitter was also a mark of Richardson's style.
Materials
Oil
On display?
Yes

Further description

Simple name
Painting
Subject
Portrait
Dimensions
framed: 6.7000cm (d) x 145.4000cm (h) x 120.1000cm (w)
regular: 96.5cm (h) x 122.0cm (w)
Garton Orme at the Spinet Jonathan Richardson the Elder (about 1665–1745) Oil on canvas, c.1705–8 Garton Orme (1696–1758) of Lavington, Sussex, is here aged ten or twelve. He sits at a spinet, wearing the sword and high-heeled shoes proper for a gentleman of his time. In adult life Garton Orme failed to live up to the charm of this early portrait. He is said to have murdered his wife, incurred considerable debts and sold half the family property. Jonathan Richardson the Elder was the leading British-born portraitist and art theorist of the early eighteenth century. A375 Bequest of Sir Orme Sargent, 1962

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