William Graham (1817 – 16 July 1885),[1] Liberal MP for Glasgow, was a Scottish politician, wine merchant, cotton manufacturer and port shipper. He is remembered as a patron of Pre-Raphaelite artists like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti and a collector of their works.
Graham's father was the founder of a firm, and in 1810 W & J Graham & Co diversified its business interests when it began importing wines from Portugal. Graham's became one of Britain's most prominent port shippers. Graham was a moderate Liberal, who was elected on 14 July 1865 with Robert Dalglish (1808–1880) in Glasgow. He was re-elected in 1868 with Dalglish and George Anderson (1819–1896) in the party's great Glasgow triumph in the general election of 1868 when Glasgow's electoral representation was raised from two to three MPs.
Graham was a friend and patron of Edward Burne-Jones since 1856.[2] Graham bought several of Burne-Jones's works and the 1886 sale of his collection allowed new Burne-Jones enthusiasts to acquire coveted pieces. Graham also invited artists such as Burne-Jones and Edward Clifford to his country house, Stobhall, in Perthshire. Clifford in turn acquired three paintings from Graham's collection in 1886.
At Rossetti's persuasion, he commissioned Found for 800 pounds in 1869; the painting remained unfinished, and took possession of the work after the painter's death in April 1882.[3] In 1871, Graham commissioned The Blessed Damozel (1871) from Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He also acquired La Donna Della Finestra (1880) from the artist. Graham began to buy from Rossetti in the mid-1860s. When they came on the market in 1874 and 1885, Graham bought his two Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood oils, Ecce Ancilla Domini (1850) and The Girlhood of Mary Virgin (1849) both now in the Tate Gallery. He also commissioned the large Dante's Dream, although this was found to be too big for his London house. Many of the pictures he owned are now in Tate Britain.
From Edward Burne-Jones, Graham also acquired many pieces. In the 1870s, Graham commissioned the two large oils Laus Veneris (Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne) and Chant d'Amour (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), which were the most important items in a large collection of Burne-Jones's work, formed from the mid-1860s. The Graham piano was painted by Burne-Jones for Graham's daughter Frances (Mrs. Horner, later Lady Horner); Frances continued her father's role as friend and patron of Burne-Jones. William Morris and Burne-Jones also prepared a copy, one of four, of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1859) for Frances.[4]
His importance is not only as a purchaser and a patron, but also as a person whose fine collection of early Italian paintings helped to inspire the artists whom Graham supported such as Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones. After his death, his collection was sold at auction by Christie's in April 1886.
Issue and descendantsedit
Graham married Jane Catherine Lowndes (1819/1820–1899), and had issue including:
Agnes Graham (1860/1861–1937), married 1881 Herbert Jekyll, later Colonel Sir Herbert Jekyll (1846–1932), brother of the celebrated gardener Gertrude Jekyll. Agnes became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Lady of Justice of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. They had issue one son who died unmarried (1882–1965), and two daughters:
Barbara Jekyll (1887–1973), married first 1911 the Hon. Francis McLaren, M.P., who was killed in 1917 in the War, and, secondly, in 1922, Colonel B. C. Freyberg, V.C., later Lord Freyberg (1889–1963), and had issue by both husbands. She was named a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1953.
Pamela Jekyll (1889–1943), married 1908 the Right Hon. Reginald McKenna (d. 1943), and had issue.
^Pre-Raphaelite: 1856 27 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. See also Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
^""Studies for the Head of the Farmer; for the unfinished painting 'Found' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)"". from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
^Michael Braesel. "William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam'." 26 January 2008 at the Wayback MachineApollo, 2 January 2004.
^"Janus: The Papers of Alfred Duff Cooper (1st Viscount Norwich)". from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
Sourcesedit
William Graham MP 7 December 2007 at the Wayback MachineThe Glasgow Story.
Reynolds, K. D. (2004). "Horner [née Graham], Frances Jane, Lady Horner (1854–1940), hostess and patron of the arts". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49524. ISBN9780198614128. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Obituary: Sir Herbert Jekyll 4 April 2009 at the Wayback MachineThe Times, 30 September 1932.
Obituary: Barbara, Lady Freyberg 4 April 2009 at the Wayback MachineThe Times, 26 September and 3 October 1973
Obituary: General Lord Freyberg 4 April 2009 at the Wayback MachineThe Times, 6 July 1963
Leigh Rayment [usurped], last updated 4 November 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
Further readingedit
Oliver Garnett, 'The Letters and Collection of William Graham - Pre-Raphaelite Patron and Pre-Raphaelite Collector', The Walpole Society, 1999–2000, pp. 249, 254, 290 (no b26)
External linksedit
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Graham
william, graham, glasgow, william, graham, 1817, july, 1885, liberal, glasgow, scottish, politician, wine, merchant, cotton, manufacturer, port, shipper, remembered, patron, raphaelite, artists, like, edward, burne, jones, dante, gabriel, rossetti, collector, . William Graham 1817 16 July 1885 1 Liberal MP for Glasgow was a Scottish politician wine merchant cotton manufacturer and port shipper He is remembered as a patron of Pre Raphaelite artists like Edward Burne Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti and a collector of their works William Graham 1866 engraving after a photograph Contents 1 Art collector 2 Issue and descendants 3 References 4 Sources 5 Further reading 6 External linksArt collector edit nbsp Found unfinished by Dante Gabriel Rossetti Delaware Art Museum nbsp Ecce Ancilla Domini by Rossetti Tate Britain London 1850 Graham s father was the founder of a firm and in 1810 W amp J Graham amp Co diversified its business interests when it began importing wines from Portugal Graham s became one of Britain s most prominent port shippers Graham was a moderate Liberal who was elected on 14 July 1865 with Robert Dalglish 1808 1880 in Glasgow He was re elected in 1868 with Dalglish and George Anderson 1819 1896 in the party s great Glasgow triumph in the general election of 1868 when Glasgow s electoral representation was raised from two to three MPs Graham was a friend and patron of Edward Burne Jones since 1856 2 Graham bought several of Burne Jones s works and the 1886 sale of his collection allowed new Burne Jones enthusiasts to acquire coveted pieces Graham also invited artists such as Burne Jones and Edward Clifford to his country house Stobhall in Perthshire Clifford in turn acquired three paintings from Graham s collection in 1886 At Rossetti s persuasion he commissioned Found for 800 pounds in 1869 the painting remained unfinished and took possession of the work after the painter s death in April 1882 3 In 1871 Graham commissioned The Blessed Damozel 1871 from Dante Gabriel Rossetti He also acquired La Donna Della Finestra 1880 from the artist Graham began to buy from Rossetti in the mid 1860s When they came on the market in 1874 and 1885 Graham bought his two Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood oils Ecce Ancilla Domini 1850 and The Girlhood of Mary Virgin 1849 both now in the Tate Gallery He also commissioned the large Dante s Dream although this was found to be too big for his London house Many of the pictures he owned are now in Tate Britain From Edward Burne Jones Graham also acquired many pieces In the 1870s Graham commissioned the two large oils Laus Veneris Laing Art Gallery Newcastle upon Tyne and Chant d Amour Metropolitan Museum of Art New York which were the most important items in a large collection of Burne Jones s work formed from the mid 1860s The Graham piano was painted by Burne Jones for Graham s daughter Frances Mrs Horner later Lady Horner Frances continued her father s role as friend and patron of Burne Jones William Morris and Burne Jones also prepared a copy one of four of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 1859 for Frances 4 His importance is not only as a purchaser and a patron but also as a person whose fine collection of early Italian paintings helped to inspire the artists whom Graham supported such as Rossetti and Edward Burne Jones After his death his collection was sold at auction by Christie s in April 1886 Issue and descendants editGraham married Jane Catherine Lowndes 1819 1820 1899 and had issue including Frances Jane Graham 1854 1855 1940 married 1883 John Francis Fortescue Horner barrister later Sir John Horner of Mells Park Somerset and had issue Katharine Frances Horner 1885 1976 5 married the barrister Raymond Asquith killed in action 1916 and was grandmother of the present Earl of Oxford and Asquith She was a friend of Ronald Knox and Siegfried Sassoon Edward Horner 1888 November 1917 killed in action in the Battle of Cambrai a member of The Coterie with his brother in law Agnes Graham 1860 1861 1937 married 1881 Herbert Jekyll later Colonel Sir Herbert Jekyll 1846 1932 brother of the celebrated gardener Gertrude Jekyll Agnes became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Lady of Justice of the Order of St John of Jerusalem They had issue one son who died unmarried 1882 1965 and two daughters Barbara Jekyll 1887 1973 married first 1911 the Hon Francis McLaren M P who was killed in 1917 in the War and secondly in 1922 Colonel B C Freyberg V C later Lord Freyberg 1889 1963 and had issue by both husbands She was named a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire GBE in 1953 Pamela Jekyll 1889 1943 married 1908 the Right Hon Reginald McKenna d 1943 and had issue References edit Leigh Rayment THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CONSTITUENCIES BEGINNING WITH G usurped Pre Raphaelite 1856 Archived 27 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine See also Edward Burne Jones 1833 1898 Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Studies for the Head of the Farmer for the unfinished painting Found by Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1828 1882 Archived from the original on 9 August 2010 Retrieved 21 January 2008 Michael Braesel William Morris Edward Burne Jones and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Archived 26 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine Apollo 2 January 2004 Janus The Papers of Alfred Duff Cooper 1st Viscount Norwich Archived from the original on 31 October 2013 Retrieved 21 January 2008 Sources editWilliam Graham MP Archived 7 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Glasgow Story Reynolds K D 2004 Horner nee Graham Frances Jane Lady Horner 1854 1940 hostess and patron of the arts Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 49524 ISBN 9780198614128 Subscription or UK public library membership required Obituary Sir Herbert Jekyll Archived 4 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Times 30 September 1932 Obituary Barbara Lady Freyberg Archived 4 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Times 26 September and 3 October 1973 Obituary General Lord Freyberg Archived 4 April 2009 at the Wayback MachineThe Times 6 July 1963 Leigh Rayment THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CONSTITUENCIES BEGINNING WITH G usurped last updated 4 November 2006 Retrieved 21 January 2008 Further reading editOliver Garnett The Letters and Collection of William Graham Pre Raphaelite Patron and Pre Raphaelite Collector The Walpole Society 1999 2000 pp 249 254 290 no b26 External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by William Graham Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byWalter BuchananRobert Dalglish Member of Parliament for Glasgow1865 1874 With Robert Dalglish 1857 68George Anderson 1868 85 Succeeded byCharles CameronAlexander WhitelawGeorge Anderson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Graham Glasgow MP amp oldid 1221476452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
