Portrait of a Musician (formerly known as Peter Farrington)
Date1781
Attributed to
Daniel Badger
(1714 - 1785)
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 41 1/4 x 33in. (104.8 x 83.8cm) and Framed: 48 1/2 x 39 3/4in.
Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Object number1942.100.1,A&C
DescriptionA three-quarter length portrait of a man shown turned a quarter towards his proper right, against a dark brown background with a large pipe organ to his right, his right hand touching the keyboard. He wears a royal blue coat having big blue buttons with gold borders. He also wears a brown, gray-buttoned waistcoat, brown breeches, a white ruffled shirt, and a neckcloth. His thin brown hair is pulled back from his face in a queue. He has blue eyes. He holds an open music book in his left hand, the pages shown with notes on them. A replacement 3 3/4-inch stained, molded frame with gilt inner border, est. made during the second half of the nineteenth century, was provided by Knoedler's in 1944 and remained on the picture until June 20, 2012, when it was replaced with a (heretofore) unaccessioned modern reproduction frame originally made for use on Sauthier's Map of New York, acc. no. 1968-135. The latter frame is a 2 1/2-inch black-painted cyma reversa with gilded liner, now accessioned as 1942.100.1,C.
Label TextThe unidentified subject of this portrait sits before an organ with a hymn book in his hand. “S. Brocknier” appears on the page, likely a reference to the composer Brockiner, who published songs in the hymnals of Charles Wesley. Several hymnals, including those by Wesley, were offered for sale in Williamsburg. It is possible that the published music depicted in this portrait was played in Bruton Parish Church or any of several Williamsburg homes.
Anglican parishioners wanted to acquire organs for their churches to aid their congregation’s psalmody while also showing their parish’s fashionableness. Bruton Parish was no different, hoping an organ would “add greatly to the Harmony of Praise to the Supreme Being.” The parish tried to acquire an organ starting in 1729, but it was not approved by the House of Burgesses until 1752. The instrument arrived in 1755. Noted musician Peter Pelham Jr. became the organist at Bruton Parish and remained so for over 40 years.
InscribedThe words lettered on the proper left page of the music book are as follows: "All ye that pass by/Jesus My Hope, For me of . . . with Clamour purified the to Calvary for . . ./(undecipherable) . . . let it . . . (undecipherable) . . . ." On the proper right page are the words "S.Brockiner/Still may I walk as in the Sight My prior Observer see,/Thou by reverent love unite my Child like Heart to thee. Still let me till my Days are past . . ./Jesus feet . . . at last my features by his side."
An inscription within a painted oval on the primary support, now covered by a lining canvas, was documented via photography as: "AE 33y/PF/Dec.12,/1781."
ProvenanceThe Old Print Shop, New York, NY; Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, by whom given to Colonial Williamsburg.
Probably 1841
ca. 1755-1758
Probably 1665-1700
1793 (probably)
1772-1775
