John Arnold (1736–1799)

Image credit: The Trustees of the British Museum

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Notes

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Arnold is shown holding a watch, as befits a leading watchmaker and chronometer maker. He was born in Bodmin, Cornwall, the son of Richard Arnold, to whom he was apprenticed in about 1754. He was the principal chronometer maker of his day. Among his achievements was a repeating watch set in a ring made for George III for which he received £500. In about 1763 he set up business in Devereux Court, The Strand, London. He was a member of the Clockmakers Company from 1783 until his death in 1799.

The artist may be Mason Chamberlin, ‘best-known for his honest, unpretentious portraits of the merchant and professional classes’ of which this is one. The painting formed part of the important horological collection put together by Courtney Adrian Ilbert (1868–1957), which came to the Museum in 1958.

British Museum

London

Title

John Arnold (1736–1799)

Date

c.1760–1770

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 87 x W 70 cm

Accession number

1958,1006.2700

Acquisition method

gift from Gilbert Edgar, as part of the Ilbert Collection, 1958; on loan to the National Maritime Museum, since 1998

Work type

Painting

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