Portrait of John Roe thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Portrait of John Roe

Relief
Before 1742 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ivory medallion relief is by Gaspar van der Hagen, and represents John Roe. John Roe (1672-1742) left this framed portrait to Mrs. Judith Norris (1703-1779), describing it in his will of 1742 as “A three quarter fface cut in Ivory made for my self set in a Brass Rim with a Motto and my Name in a black pear Tree square fframe”. She was the eldest daughter of Robert Western , a merchant residing in the City of London, in whose house Roe lived and worked as “my booke keeper” until Western’s death in 1728. Roe was a devout Anglican and the inscription ‘content is a treasure’ on the brass surround should probably be understood in the context of Christian contentment as a rare jewel. The letters G. VD R inscribed on the ivory are a cipher of Gaspar Vanderhagen, a Flemish sculptor who had trained in Antwerp and who was working in London by 1733 as an assistant to the statuary Michael Rysbrack (information kindly supplied by Gordon Balderston).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePortrait of John Roe (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ivory in wood and brass frame with brass ring for suspension
Brief description
Medallion relief, carved ivory, portrait of John Roe, by Gaspar van der Hagen (monogrammed GVDR), Netherlandish, produced in Britain, before 1742.
Physical description
Oval relief in ivory representing an elderly man looking to his right, in a loosely curled wig reaching to his shoulders. He wears a chemise and cravat, and an unbuttoned jacket under a loose cloak. Signed below the right arm. Inscribed in ink on the back.
Dimensions
  • Ivory alone height: 14cm
  • Ivory alone width: 10cm
  • Whole height: 21.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'John Roe. Contente is a Treasure' (The inscription is inked on the reverse of the peardwood mount, possibly n the 19th century.)
  • 'JOHN ROE CONTENT IS A TREASURE' (The inscription, slightly differing from the inked one, lacking an 'e' in 'Content', and not in upper case, is on the brass mount of the frame.)
Object history
Purchased through Alfred Spero at Sotheby's November 19, 1937, lot 179 for £32. Formerly on loan to the Museum (until 1929) from Mr W. Saunders Fiske, a solicitor (d. 1932), 35A Hyde Park Gate, London S.W.7; Mr Fiske bequeathed ceramics and miniatures to the Museum.
PROVENANCE (courtesy of Gordon Balderston):
• John Roe (1672-1742), the sitter; by whom bequeathed in 1742 to
• Judith Norris née Western (1703-1779), eldest daughter of Roe’s employer by 1717
• Elizabeth Norris (1734-1822), above’s daughter, sole beneficiary and executrix
• William Sanders [sic] Fiske (Taunton, 14 August 1866-18 March 1932, 35a Hyde Park Gate, London SW7; wed 25 August 1897 Grace Baldry) of Gedge, Fiske & Co., solicitors; by whom loaned to museum until 1929
Sold at auction in 1937 by order of Mrs Vanda Howden, his daughter and executrix. Sotheby & Co., 34 & 35 New Bond Street,, London, November 18-19, 1937, second day’s sale, lot 179, bought for £32 by Alfred Spero on behalf of Museum.
Production
Signed 'G. VD. R' [sic]
Summary
This ivory medallion relief is by Gaspar van der Hagen, and represents John Roe. John Roe (1672-1742) left this framed portrait to Mrs. Judith Norris (1703-1779), describing it in his will of 1742 as “A three quarter fface cut in Ivory made for my self set in a Brass Rim with a Motto and my Name in a black pear Tree square fframe”. She was the eldest daughter of Robert Western , a merchant residing in the City of London, in whose house Roe lived and worked as “my booke keeper” until Western’s death in 1728. Roe was a devout Anglican and the inscription ‘content is a treasure’ on the brass surround should probably be understood in the context of Christian contentment as a rare jewel. The letters G. VD R inscribed on the ivory are a cipher of Gaspar Vanderhagen, a Flemish sculptor who had trained in Antwerp and who was working in London by 1733 as an assistant to the statuary Michael Rysbrack (information kindly supplied by Gordon Balderston).
Bibliographic references
  • Theuerkauff, C. Elfenbein: Sammlung Reiner Winkler. Munich, 1984, pp.105-7, cat. no. 55
  • Review [1911-1938], Victoria & Albert Museum. Review of the Principal Acquisitions during the Year, London, 1937, p. 5
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 125
Collection
Accession number
A.122-1937

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest