James Christie

Gainsborough presented this portrait of his friend James Christie (1730–1803), founder of Christie's auction house, at the 1778 Royal Academy exhibition. It was the only one of his eight portraits that year whose subject was identified by name in the exhibition catalogue, which suggests that Christie was known in London society. Like other portraits Gainsborough seems to have given as gifts or in exchange, James Christie represents the sitter in the trappings of his profession: the auctioneer leans against a framed painting and holds a sheet of paper, perhaps a bill of sale. Recent technical examination revealed a number of changes to Christie's figure, including replacement of a row of buttons with the button-and-loop closures that appear today. Advertising the sitter's trade, the portrait hung in Christie's salesrooms on Pall Mall until 1846. It also promoted the art of Gainsborough himself, whose frequent presence at Christie's, the auctioneer reportedly said, increased his commissions by fifteen percent.