Mason Chamberlin (1727-1787)

Portrait of a Gentleman in a Brown Suit with Gold Braid
Oil on Canvas
50 x 40 in.

PROVENANCE:
Christies, London, March 23, 1979 (lot 109),
Thomas Agnews and Sons, Ltd., London,
Mr. Philip Rieff, Philadelphia, PA (former husband of Susan Sontag).

Another version of this portrait is in the Milwaukee Art Museum Collection.  Dr. Alfred Bader who gave the painting purchased it as a J.S. Copley.  When the painting was acquired by the Museum it was attributed to Joseph Wright of Derby.  The current belief is it is by Mason Chamberlin.

The identity of the sitter was said to be a ‘Dr. Richardson’ in 1971.  The Museum believes the portrait is of the famous Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) the writer of the novel Pamela in 1740.