Thomas Glass, Esq. (1862 – 1947).

Thomas Glass, Esq. by Sir William Orpen (1927). Seated half-length, in a brown three-piece suit.

Oil on Canvas – 40 x 34 inches. Signed ‘ORPEN’ (upper left).

Orpen’s studio book shows he was paid £2000 for the painting (that’s about £100,000 today).

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Dundee Courier 1st Oct 1927.

“Even in Portraiture direct sunlight is evoked, for in Sir William Orpen’s portrait of Thomas Glass, Esq., shafts of light filter through the blinds, and break up the foreground. Only an Orpen would have risked this competition of interest between accessory and subject, but a dominating personality in the portrait justifies it”.

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The Scotsman 10th Feb 1947.

“A former partner of the well-known Glasgow carpet firm of James Templeton & Co., Mr. Thomas Glass, has died in London, aged 85. He entered the firm’s service as a youth and represented the firm in Australia for several years. He became a partner on his return to this country, with headquarters in London.

Mr. Glass retired several years ago and is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. One son, Mr. John T. Glass, is a partner in the firm now”.

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Surrey Mirror 21st Sept 1928.

By direction of Thomas Glass – Farm Place, Ockley for sale by Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley.

Photo of Thomas Glass’s house – Farm Place, near Ockley Green, Surrey.

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Probate.

Probate for Thomas Glass of 36 Brunswick Gardens, London W8. Died 8th Feb 1947. Probate London 18th June to Midland Bank. Executor and Trustee Company Ltd. Effects £244110.3s. 9d. (that’s about £9 million today).

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Literature on Orpen’s painting of Thomas Glass: Konody, P.G. & Dark, Sidney, William Orpen: Artist & Man, Seeley Service, London, 1932, Chronological List, Page 274.

Exhibited: Glasgow McLellan Galleries, The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, 66th Annual Exhibition, 1st Oct – 10th Dec 1927, number 127.

Provenance: Stodard Carpet Company, Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

James Templeton & Co, Scotland.

Christie’s, London.

Robert Funk Fine Art, Miami, Florida, USA (by 2014).

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Post by Dominic Lee, Orpen Research Archives.

Also, see www.twitter.com/SirWilliamOrpen