19th Century Oil Portrait of World Chess Champion Howard Staunton

[Andrew Martin]

I can scarcely make out any difference between the two portraits, but if pushed , I would say that Ray Keene’s picture depicts Staunton shortly after being mated by the bishop and knight, rather than mating.

[MJMcCready]

I once heard there's a portrait of Staunton where he parades the pieces named after him but makes the portrait different from all others is that Staunton has got a black eye, broken nose, fat lip, several missing teeth and looks massively pissed off.

[David McAlister]

Wonder if this was painted by Barry Martin, a friend of Ray Keene.

Plausibly

Was the difference between the first and second editions the words "first" and "second" on the front cover ?

I'm thinking of Flank Openings which used the words first, second, third and fourth as I recall.

I have the third edition where the front cover surround has changed from the garish yellow to a more soothing grey. There is a further change - a third author has appeared - Clive Davey. Inside, among the copyright claims, is this: "Original Staunton Cover illustration (c) Barry Martin 2004"

I don't have the first two editions, but it seems tolerably clear that the 2004 1st edition inter alia contained a report on the 2003 Staunton Memorial Tournament, and that the 2005 2nd ed. also reported on the 2004 SMT with the 2006 3rd ed. further adding a report on the 2005 SMT.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I once heard

Edward Winter would have fun with that......

[MJMcCready]

Is he not an admirer of Staunton then?

[John Townsend]

Did anyone have any further thoughts about the subject of the painting? It's not Staunton, but the position on the board suggests it could be someone else famous. Who other than a top chessplayer would want to emphasise his expertise at the game in a portrait?

A friend "in the know" told me he thought the style of dress was more 1830 than 1840 and could be earlier.

John Cochrane's treatise covers the mate with bishop and knight in some detail, but he mates in the a1 corner, so I think Cochrane can be ruled out. He looks too young to be Sarratt or Lewis.

One intriguing thought is that we could be looking at Alexander McDonnell, of whom we have no likeness at present. However, it is fanciful to associate the portrait with anyone specific without fresh evidence.

[John Upham]

For those not in the know could we be pointed at the portrait under discussion please?

[John Townsend]

John, the portrait was sent with the first post above, by John Upham. Do you know him?

[John Upham]

John, the portrait was sent with the first post above, by John Upham. Do you know him?

Thanks and no. He must be that chap

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Upham

[John Upham]

I have drawn the vendor's attention to our discussion in the hope he /she might engage with this place.