Michael Bryan (art historian)
Encyclopedia
Michael Bryan was an English art historian, art dealer and connoisseur. He was involved in the purchase and resale of the great French Orleans collection
of art selling it on to a British syndicate, and owned a fashionable art gallery in Saville Row, London
. His book, "Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers", was a standard reference work throughout the 19th century, and was last published in 1920; however it is now badly outdated.
, Northumberland
(now Tyne and Wear
), and educated at the Royal Grammar School
under Dr. Moyce. He travelled to London
in 1781, then to Flanders
with his eldest brother, where he lived from 1782 to 1790, possibly having some connection with the cloth trade, but also building up his art historical knowledge. In June 1784, he married Juliana Talbot (1759–1801), the sister of Charles Talbot, the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury
, which gained him valuable aristocratic social connections.
Bryan moved back to London in 1790 establishing himself as an authority and dealer in Fine Art. In 1793 or 1794, he again went to the continent in search of fine pictures. Among other places he visited Holland, and remained there until an order arrived from the French government to stop all English citizens then resident there. He was, amongst many others, detained at Rotterdam
. It was here that he met Jean-Joseph de Laborde
who, in 1798, sought his advice and assistance in disposing of the Italian part of the famous private "Orleans collection
" of art which he had acquired. Bryan, in effect, became a middleman for the purchase, and contacted the Duke of Bridgewater
, who authorised him to open negotiations. After three weeks, a syndicate consisting of the Duke of Bridgewater, Marquis of Stafford
, then Lord Gower, and the Earl of Carlisle
, became the purchasers of the collection from Bryan, at a price of £43,500. The collection was displayed in Bryan's private art gallery in Pall Mall
, London, as well as at The Lyceum in the Strand
.
In 1801 Bryan obtained, through the Duke of Bridgewater, the king's permission to visit Paris in order to purchase art from the cabinet of Monsieur Robit to bring back to England. Among other fine pictures, he returned with two by the baroque Spanish artist Murillo
- "The infant Christ as the Good Shepherd", and "The infant St. John with the lamb".
In 1804 Bryan retired from the art world, and settled at his brother's home in Yorkshire
, where he remained until 1811. In 1812 Bryan again visited London, and commenced writing his "magnum opus" - the "Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers" in 2 volumes. The first part appeared in May 1813, and concluded in 1816. He owned a gallery in London's Saville Row, which became a fashionable gathering place for artists and their patrons. In 1818 he became involved with some speculative art purchases which proved a failure.
On 14 February 1821, Bryan suffered a severe paralytic stroke, dying at Portman Square
, London on the 21 March of the same year.
Orleans Collection
The Orleans Collection was a very important collection of over 500 paintings formed by the French prince of the blood Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, mostly acquired between about 1700 and his death in 1723...
of art selling it on to a British syndicate, and owned a fashionable art gallery in Saville Row, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His book, "Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers", was a standard reference work throughout the 19th century, and was last published in 1920; however it is now badly outdated.
Life and work
Bryan was born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
(now Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
), and educated at the Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
under Dr. Moyce. He travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1781, then to Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
with his eldest brother, where he lived from 1782 to 1790, possibly having some connection with the cloth trade, but also building up his art historical knowledge. In June 1784, he married Juliana Talbot (1759–1801), the sister of Charles Talbot, the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the peerage of England.-First creation, 1074:The first creation occurred in 1074 for Roger de Montgomerie, one of William the Conqueror's principal counselors...
, which gained him valuable aristocratic social connections.
Bryan moved back to London in 1790 establishing himself as an authority and dealer in Fine Art. In 1793 or 1794, he again went to the continent in search of fine pictures. Among other places he visited Holland, and remained there until an order arrived from the French government to stop all English citizens then resident there. He was, amongst many others, detained at Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. It was here that he met Jean-Joseph de Laborde
Jean-Joseph de Laborde
- Biography:Laborde was born near Jaca in Aragon, into a modest béarnaise family. When he reached adolescence he joined his uncle, who was head of a maritime import-export company at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and took over as head of the business on the cousin's death...
who, in 1798, sought his advice and assistance in disposing of the Italian part of the famous private "Orleans collection
Orleans Collection
The Orleans Collection was a very important collection of over 500 paintings formed by the French prince of the blood Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, mostly acquired between about 1700 and his death in 1723...
" of art which he had acquired. Bryan, in effect, became a middleman for the purchase, and contacted the Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater , known as Lord Francis Egerton until 1748, was a British nobleman, the younger son of the 1st Duke...
, who authorised him to open negotiations. After three weeks, a syndicate consisting of the Duke of Bridgewater, Marquis of Stafford
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford
Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:...
, then Lord Gower, and the Earl of Carlisle
Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle
Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, KG, KT, PC was a British diplomat and the son of Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle and his second wife Isabella Byron....
, became the purchasers of the collection from Bryan, at a price of £43,500. The collection was displayed in Bryan's private art gallery in Pall Mall
Pall Mall
-Places:* Pall Mall, urban downtown ares of Bendigo, Australia* Pall Mall, London, a street in the City of Westminster, London* Pall Mall, Tennessee, a small unincorporated community in Fentress County, Tennessee...
, London, as well as at The Lyceum in the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
.
In 1801 Bryan obtained, through the Duke of Bridgewater, the king's permission to visit Paris in order to purchase art from the cabinet of Monsieur Robit to bring back to England. Among other fine pictures, he returned with two by the baroque Spanish artist Murillo
Bartolomé Estéban Murillo
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was a Spanish Baroque painter. Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children...
- "The infant Christ as the Good Shepherd", and "The infant St. John with the lamb".
In 1804 Bryan retired from the art world, and settled at his brother's home in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, where he remained until 1811. In 1812 Bryan again visited London, and commenced writing his "magnum opus" - the "Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and Engravers" in 2 volumes. The first part appeared in May 1813, and concluded in 1816. He owned a gallery in London's Saville Row, which became a fashionable gathering place for artists and their patrons. In 1818 he became involved with some speculative art purchases which proved a failure.
On 14 February 1821, Bryan suffered a severe paralytic stroke, dying at Portman Square
Portman Square
Portman Square is a square in London, part of the Portman Estate. It is located at the western end of Wigmore Street, which connects it to Cavendish Square to its east. It is served by London bus route 274...
, London on the 21 March of the same year.