Oil paint on wood
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-john-everett-millais-bt-379" aria-label="More by Sir John Everett Millais, Bt" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir John Everett Millais, Bt</a>
Serjeant Ralph Thomas
Presented by Ralph Thomas 1917
actions: postures and motions
adults
arts and entertainment
collector / patron
crime and punishment
easel
fine arts and music
hands clasped
individuals: male
interiors
lawyer
man
named individuals
objects
painting
people
portraits
standing
studio
Thomas, Ralph, Serjeant
work and occupations
workspaces
<p>Ralph Thomas was a well-known lawyer who was also a picture collector and dealer. He appears to have known Millais' parents. In about 1845 he made an agreement with the sixteen-year old artist that he paint small pictures for him on a retainer of ¿100 per year. The first cheque Millais ever received for his work came from Thomas. It was a for a sum of ¿5 'for a sketch'. The arrangement lasted for two years. In the end Millais withdrew from it chiefly because Thomas appeared to be taking advantage of him. This portrait shows Thomas standing by a picture on an easel, perhaps one by Millais himself. The date on the portrait suggests that Millais kept in touch with his early patron despite the apparent animosity between them.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint wood
Serjeant Ralph Thomas
support: 407 × 303 mm
Presented by Ralph Thomas 1917
<p>Ralph Thomas was a well-known lawyer who was also a picture collector and dealer. He appears to have known Millais' parents. In about 1845 he made an agreement with the sixteen-year old artist that he paint small pictures for him on a retainer of ¿100 per year. The first cheque Millais ever received for his work came from Thomas. It was a for a sum of ¿5 'for a sketch'. The arrangement lasted for two years. In the end Millais withdrew from it chiefly because Thomas appeared to be taking advantage of him. This po<a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>rtrait s</span></a>hows Thomas standing by a picture on an easel, perhaps one by Millais himself. The date on the portrait suggests that Millais kept in touch with his early patron despite the apparent animosity between them.</p>
Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
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actions: postures and motions adults arts and entertainment collector / patron crime and punishment easel fine arts and music hands clasped individuals: male interiors lawyer man named individuals objects painting people portraits standing studio Thomas, Ralph, Serjeant work and occupations workspaces