Patey, J.

Introduction:

J.PATEY is unrecorded by McKechnie, though she lists erroneously a THOMAS PATEY due to misinterpreting a stylised 'J' for a 'T' on one of J. Patey's 2 known trade labels.

Land tax records and an electoral register show Thomas Patey was in fact a victualler of Argyll Street in London's Piccadilly from 1784 until his death in December 1789. Though, as evidenced by J.Patey's trade labels, both men appear to be Londoners, to date no family connection has surfaced, while J.Patey's given name also eluded research.

With only 5 recorded works painted on plaster, J. Patey's profiles are extremely rare. From the 2 known printed trade labels he is described as "J.PATEY FROM LONDON". However, his only known place of work was Dublin, where, in a sustained publicity campaign in SAUNDERS NEWSLETTER AND DAILY ADVERTISER between April the 21st and 12th of July 1786, he placed 23 advertisements.

The advertisements offer "PROFILE SHADES IN MINIATURE...delivered in Frames neatly gilt, from 6s.6d. to 7s.7d. each. Specimens may be seen at his Apartments no.65 Dame-Street where he takes shades every Day ...". By July he ",,,informs his stay in this city will be but a few weeks...". Where he moved on to however, is still unknown.

The works are relatively well painted with black body colour and details painted in thinned black paint. Four works bear bust-lines of double loop concavity, all of which vary slightly in execution. However, the bust-line of the 5th work is painted without any suggestion of arm truncation. Four works are housed in oval pressed brass frames, one is presented in a frame of oval fruitwood, and all are glazed with flat glass.

One of the two printed trade labels gives an address "...Wheatleys near the Bridge, Donnybrook" which is about 3 miles from Dublin city centre. Of note is the fact this label shows, since his last recorded newspaper advert, that his higher priced profiles had increased two-fold from 7s.7d. to 14s.6d., strongly suggesting the trade label was printed after his stay in Dublin proper.

Another label merely reads "LIKENESSES in Miniature Profile taken by J. Patey, LONDON, and reduced on a method intirely new. And finished in Ye neatest manner...". Prices are not stated, making it impossible to tell whether the label was printed earlier or later than the Dublin trade label.However, the sitter "Miss(?) Sophia Bishton" who bears the above label, is intriguing. Bishton is a rare name, and the only woman appearing to fit the time frame is Shropshire-born Sophia Bayliss (1767-1812) who married John Bishton Esq. (1766-1810), a Shropshire landowner/businessman in February 1791. If this supposition is correct, the work would be evidence of a likeness Patey produced in England ca.1791.

Given the number of Dublin-based newspaper advertisements, it's curious that recent research failed to discover any placed anywhere before or after his visit to the city, and with so little available information, Patey's  history will probably remain unknown.

Revised 10 October 2022 (Brian Wellings)

 

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