Portrait of Nicholas Donnithorne
The museum has a new portrait (on loan) of Nicholas Donnithorne (1744-1796), merchant and mine owner, and the second son of Rev Isaac Donnithorne (1709-1782), cleric and mine owner who was christened at St Agnes.
Isaac inherited Polberro Mine, St Agnes, and Gainsborough's portrait of him, on show at Falmouth Art Gallery, shows him with his Polberro accounts. In the early 1750s, the mine produced 500 tons of tin annually, providing employment for 250 workers.
Nicholas became heavily involved in the mining industry. In 1789 he was elected as permanent chairman of the Association of the Proprietors of Tin.
Also in 1789, he worked alongside George Unwin to establish a contract to export Cornish tin to China. The East India Company accepted the scheme and 600 tons of coined tin was exported annually. Between 1791-1795 the trade amounted to roughly £400,000.
In honour of the work of Nicholas Donnithorne and George Unwin, a tower paid for by public subscription was erected on St Agnes Beacon. The tower, crenulated and painted white, stood some 24 feet high and would have been a prominent landmark. Sadly, the tower was soon vandalised and by the mid 19th century, only rubble remained.
Despite his family history of great wealth, Nicholas died in debt to the tune of £30,000. Creditors took control of his Cornish estates and in 1810 the decision was taken to sell the St Agnes estate, thereby ending the Donnithorne's involvement with the Parish.
Although the portrait is unsigned, it has been suggested that it is the work of Gainsborough Dupont (1754-1797), nephew of Thomas Gainsborough RA, or of his circle. Dupont was apprenticed to his uncle in 1772.
Click on the image, right, to enlarge
Nicholas Donnithorne