Recent studies have unveiled the compelling life story of James Cumberridge, a young black boy depicted in an 18th-century family portrait by the renowned French painter Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Initially recognized as a servant, Cumberridge went on to serve as a trumpeter in the court of King George III, and may have even possessed the right to vote. These findings provide significant insights into the experiences of black individuals in Britain prior to the 20th century.
The 1739 portrait, featured in the “Pictured Childhood” exhibition at Chatsworth House in the UK, captures the family of Lord Burlington, a prominent English architect, alongside his wife, Countess Dorothy Boyle, and their two daughters, Dorothy and Charlotte. The names of the daughters are inscribed on a piece of paper in the foreground of the artwork.
Standing to the far right, Cumberridge is shown holding a bundle of brushes and handing a palette to the Countess, suggesting her passion for painting. His identity was previously misattributed; historian Richard Hewlings incorrectly referred to him as James Cambridge in 2004, based on a misreading of a tailor’s bill from 1739 that listed clothing ordered for the Countess’s liveried servants, which included a “black man” named James Cambridge.
This formal family portrait highlights the historical presence and contributions of black individuals in British society during the 18th century, offering a richer narrative to a often-overlooked chapter of history.
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