Portraits of John Ramey (C.1718-1794) and Abigail Ramey (1726-1811) C.1746; Circle of Allan Ramsay (1713-1784), Oil on Canvas Paintings

Portraits of John Ramey (c.1718-1794) and Abigail Ramey (1726-1811) c.1746

Circle of Allan Ramsay (1713-1784)

These charming husband and wife portraits are accomplished examples of the type of portrait painted in England in the middle of the eighteenth century. The sitters are John Ramey, depicted in a gentlemanly pose for the time, with tricorn hat tucked under his arm, and his wife Abigail Ramey, who is eloquently portrayed wearing a fine oyster silk dress, pearls, and a luxurious azure mantle. The fine treatment of the dress is masterly and compares well with the work of Allan Ramsay.

John Ramey (originally spelt Remy) was one of the most remarkable men in eighteenth century Yarnmouth. The son of John Ramey (c.1690-1718), master-mariner, and Margaret (some accounts state her name as Elizabeth), née Pulteney. The father was lost at sea in 1718 and our sitter was brought up by his widowed mother, and on her death in 1758 (aged 64) he erected a monument to her in the Parish church. Ramey started life as an attorney, and his shrewdness and wisdom soon enabled him to take up a leading position. His great ambition was not only to make a fortune, but also to form a Political party in the town with him as leader.

He married Abigail, one of the two daughters and eventual co-heirs of William Browne around 1746. Our portraits were probably painted to mark this important event; the fashions, wig, and hairstyle help to date the portraits to circa 1743-49. Abigail was talented in the art of drawing, but curiously, by using a poker. The rooms of Scratby were adorned with copies by her of paintings by Panini, Gisolphi, and others in this peculiar style of art. The author of the Norfolk Tour, published in 1772, described them as “very elegant and extraordinary performances” and that “the neatness and minute accuracy in which they were done, was wonderful”. The couple had two daughters, Lady Caroline Home (1768-1794), Lady Charlotte Sophia Home (1773-1866), and a son, Alexander Ramey-Home (1769-1841), who became the 10th Earl of Home. One further son died in infancy.

Ramey was Mayor in 1760 and again in 1763. By this time, he had acquired considerable estates in Ormesby and Scratby. In 1768 his eldest daughter married Alexander, 9th Earl of Home. Alec, Lord Home was to become Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1963.

During the latter days of his life Ramey resided at Scratby Hall (which has medieval origins), where he died in 1794, aged 75. Ramey left all his estates to his widow, Abigail, who resided there until her own death, and then it passed to Lady Charlotte, later known as Lady Charlotte Baille-Hamilton.

Allan Ramsay was born in Edinburgh. He attended the new Academy of St Luke in Edinburgh and in London at St Martin's Lane Academy. From there he travelled to Italy and worked from 1736 to 1738 at the French Academy in Rome. On his return he settled in London in 1738 and soon became the most elegant of the native British portraitists, and was at first patronised by the Scottish nobility in London.

The commentator Alexander Gordon described him as ‘one of the first-rate portrait painters in London’ as early as December 1738. He was chosen to be the official court painter to King George III and during his prime period he had a virtual monopoly on court painting.

Measurements: Height 94cm, Width 81cm, Depth 7cm framed (Height 37”, Width 31.75”, Depth 2.75” framed

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