Joseph Wright of DerbyThomas Staniforth of Darnall, Co. York 1769

Joseph Wright of Derby 1734–1797

T00794 Thomas Staniforth of Darnall, Co. York 1769

Not inscribed.
Canvas, 36¿ x 30½ (93 x 77.5).
Presented by the Friends of the Tate Gallery 1965.
Coll: presumably by descent to the Rev. Thomas Staniforth of Darnall Hall and Kirk Hammerton Hall; his great-nephew Edwin Wilfred Greenwood, who assumed the name of Stanyforth and purchased Kirk Hammerton Hall; his son Lt.-Col. R. T. Stanyforth, sold Henry Spencer and Sons, Retford, Notts, 16–18 September 1964 (253), bt. anon, dealer; sold to Richard Green (Fine Paintings Ltd.), sold Christie’s, 2 April 1965 (150), by. Sabin Galleries Ltd.
Lit: W. Bemrose, The Life and Works of Joseph Wright, A.R.A., 1885, p. 119.

This is one of a number of portraits of Liverpool merchants painted by Wright c. 1768–71. His. Account Book, now at the National Portrait Gallery, lists among sitters there in 1769 ‘Mr. Stanyforth’ at 15 guineas, Wright’s standard charge for a portrait of this size.

An old label on the stretcher gives the following biographical information:’... as Staniforth, son of Saml Staniforth and . . . lethia Macro) born 27 March 1735 married Elizabeth Goore 12 June 1760 died 15 Dec.br 1803.’ Staniforth, in parternship with the Goores, was a very successful Liverpool merchant, particularly in the slave trade; the business was carried on by his son Samuel, ‘Sulky Sam’. Wright’s entry, also under Liverpool in 1769, of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Goore’ suggests that he also painted his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Goore, though his portrait of them has not been traced. (Information from Mr. Benedict Nicholson).

Published in The Tate Gallery Report 1965–1966, London 1967.