Arthur Devis

The James Family

1751

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Arthur Devis 1711–1787
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 984 x 1245 mm
frame: 1215 x 1465 x 92 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1941
Reference
N05281

Display caption

This group portrait shows Robert James, together with his wife Mary and two daughters Elizabeth and Ann. James, aged fifty-one at this time, was for many years Secretary to the East India Company. Devis specialized in painting fashionable small-scale portrait groups or 'conversation pieces’ set in domestic interiors or spacious parkland. Although such pictures were intended to portray family groups in a private setting, they can often appear quite formal, and in Devis’s case, even stiff. However, for a man such as James, a display of material wealth and worldly success was perhaps more meaningful than family intimacy.

Gallery label, May 2007

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Conversation piece

Explore

You might like

Arthur Devis, ‘Breaking-Up Day at Dr Clayton’s School at Salford’ c.1738

Arthur Devis Breaking-Up Day at Dr Clayton’s School at Salford

c.1738
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T03103
Francis Hayman, ‘Samuel Richardson, the Novelist (1684-1761), Seated, Surrounded by his Second Family’ 1740–1

Francis Hayman Samuel Richardson, the Novelist (1684-1761), Seated, Surrounded by his Second Family

1740–1
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T12221
Stephen Slaughter, ‘The Betts Family’ c.1746

Stephen Slaughter The Betts Family

c.1746
N01982
Arthur Devis, ‘Portrait of a Lady’ c.1750–1

Arthur Devis Portrait of a Lady

c.1750–1
N03317
Arthur Devis, ‘Portrait of a Man’ c.1750

Arthur Devis Portrait of a Man

c.1750
N03888
Arthur Devis, ‘A Lady in Blue’ 1757

Arthur Devis A Lady in Blue

1757
T01884
Johan Zoffany, ‘The Bradshaw Family’ exhibited 1769

Johan Zoffany The Bradshaw Family

exhibited 1769
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N06261
John Hamilton Mortimer, ‘George Thompson, his Wife and (?) his Sister-in-Law’ c.1766–8

John Hamilton Mortimer George Thompson, his Wife and (?) his Sister-in-Law

c.1766–8
N06158
Hugh Barron, ‘The Children of George Bond of Ditchleys’ 1768

Hugh Barron The Children of George Bond of Ditchleys

1768
T01882
Unknown artist, Britain, ‘A Family Group in a Landscape’ c.1750

Unknown artist, Britain A Family Group in a Landscape

c.1750
N05049
Allan Ramsay, ‘Thomas, 2nd Baron Mansel of Margam with his Blackwood Half-Brothers and Sister’ 1742

Allan Ramsay Thomas, 2nd Baron Mansel of Margam with his Blackwood Half-Brothers and Sister

1742
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T05494
Johan Zoffany, ‘Mr and Mrs Dalton and their Niece Mary de Heulle’ c.1765–8

Johan Zoffany Mr and Mrs Dalton and their Niece Mary de Heulle

c.1765–8
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T01895
Johan Zoffany, ‘Three Daughters of John, 3rd Earl of Bute’ c.1763–4

Johan Zoffany Three Daughters of John, 3rd Earl of Bute

c.1763–4
T07864
Johan Zoffany, ‘Three Sons of John, 3rd Earl of Bute’ c.1763–4

Johan Zoffany Three Sons of John, 3rd Earl of Bute

c.1763–4
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T07863
William Hogarth, ‘Ashley Cowper with his Wife and Daughter’ 1731

William Hogarth Ashley Cowper with his Wife and Daughter

1731
T00809