Colonel James Seymour

Colonel James Seymour was described in his obituary in the Universal Spectator (27 January 1739) as 'formerly an eminent banker in Fleet Street, and reckon'd to have understood Diamonds as well as most Men in England.' It went on to recount how he was also 'a compleat [sic] Master of the Pen and Pencil.' Indeed, pen and ink drawings by him are preserved in the British Museum, London and The Huntington Museum, California.¹

His only son, James, is shown here as a boy of perhaps nine or ten years of age, which therefore dates this drawing to circa 1712. George Vertue described him in his 'Notebooks' as having 'from his infancy had a genius to drawing of Horses', and he would go on to become one of the leading equestrian painters of his day.² 

This drawing was formerly in the collection of John Thane, who dealt in prints from Prince's Street, Soho, then Lisle Street, Covent Garden. He was also a writer, engraver, expert on coins and a collector. He has inscribed this drawing with collector's mark: J Th in the lower right hand corner of the sheet.³ 

We are grateful to Sue Sloman for her help when cataloguing this lot. 

1. British Museum no. 1872,1012.3422 & The Huntington Museum nos. 59.55.978, 63.52.230, 63.52.160 and 63.52.160B 

2. G. Vertue, Notebooks, 3.86

3. John Thane also owned the following drawings by Colonel Seymour: British Museum 1872,1012.3422 & the Huntington Museum 63.52.230.