Medallion relief, carved ivory, portrait of John Roe, by Gaspar van der Hagen (monogrammed GVDR), Netherlandish, produced in Britain, before 1742.

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.

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.

Signed 'G. VD. R' [sic]

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).

A.122-1937