J. H. Burden papers and photographs received from the Leger Gallery concerning portraits of Captain James Cook

MLMSS 11899

fonds

1934

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

9642732

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder), includes 3 photographs

J. H. Burden was a notable Sydney collector and dealer during the first half of the 20th Century.

Joseph Leger (1867-1925) was an artist and picture restorer before becoming a picture dealer. With his son Harold Leger, they formed the business J. Leger & Son in Duke Street, St James. In 1930, Harold moved the Leger Gallery to Old Bond Street. He then established galleries in New York, Brussels, Paris and Chicago.

Reference:
Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file

Letter from H. L. Leger, London, to J. H. Burden, Sydney, 19 July 1934 enclosing the following:
1. Descriptive catalogue: 'Portraits of Captain James Cook, R.N., F.R.s., the circumnavigator' compiled by the Leger Gallery, 13 Old Bond Street, London, 1934. Carbon typescript, 37 leaves (1 blank). This catalogue was circulated privately by Leger to collectors, dealers and institutions. It describes seven portraits of Captain Cook, done 'in his lifetime', and discusses their historical context. Two of the portraits were offered for sale.
2. Photograph of 'Cook Portrait No.1', offered for sale by the Leger Gallery. On a small oval wooden panel, in a gilt frame. A small three-quarter length portrait, painted about the time of Cook's marriage (1762-1763) when he was a Master in the Royal Navy. He is depicted with powdered hair, with a black velvet stock around his neck, a blue coat with white lapels and rose-patterned buttons, white waistcoat and black breeches.
3. Photograph of painting believed to be 'Cook Portrait No.3', called the "Hodges" portrait, offered for sale by the Leger Gallery. Attributed to William Hodges by the Leger Gallery in 1934 because of its resemblance to the 1786 engraving of Captain James Cook by R. Thornton. In the painting, Cook is depicted life-sized and at waist length, wearing the uniform of a Commander in the Royal Navy, with his own dark brown hair rather than a powdered wig.
4. Photograph of engraving of Captain James Cook as a bookplate (1786), with the inscription "Accurately engraved by Mr Thornton from the original picture in the possession of G. W. Anderson Esq".

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Of the portraits for sale by the Leger Gallery in 1934, the one attributed to William Hodges was purchased by Sir William Dixson in 1935 and was subsequently presented to the Public Library of NSW (see DG 213).