Lemuel Francis Abbott – Portrait
One of the most famous golf portraits in the world became the most valuable when it sold for £722,500 at Bonhams in London last month. Painted by Lemuel Francis Abbott in the 1790’s the Portrait of Henry Callender standing in a landscape in the attire of Captain General of the Blackheath Golf Club is one of the earliest golf portraits of an identified sitter.
After Callender’s death in 1812 prints were made of the work and have been in golf clubs and private collections around the world for centuries. The original painting was in the Royal Blackheath Golf Club in south east London for more than 150 years. It was sold to enable the club buy the freehold of the course and clubhouse from the Crown Estate.