James Christie the Younger

James Christie the Younger
James Christie the Younger
Born	1773; Pall Mall, London, England
Died	1831
Occupation(s)	Antiquarian, auctioneer, classical scholar
Years active	Early 19th century
Known for	Head of Christie's auction house; classical scholarship on Greek origins of chess, Etruscan vases, pagan elemental worship, Ancient Greek sculpture

James Christie the Younger (1773–1831) was an English antiquarian, auctioneer, and the eldest offspring of James Christie, the founder of Christie's.

Although he was not originally destined to enter the family enterprise, Christie eventually inherited the auctioneer role from his father, establishing a reputable standing despite being regarded as less meticulous and more reclusive compared to his predecessor. During his tenure, Christie's "reinforced its supremacy within the London fine art auction market," fostering continued expansion of the business. He oversaw prominent auctions including William Young Ottley's Italian Primitives collection (1811), Joseph Nollekens's models (1823), and Thomas Lawrence's art holdings (1830). The company remained under family management until 1889, when he passed leadership to his son.

In addition to his commercial pursuits, Christie was an enthusiastic classical scholar who authored respected studies on topics such as the Greek origins of chess, Etruscan vase decoration, elemental worship in Paganism, and Ancient Greek sculpture. He maintained scholarly collaborations with notable figures like Sir John Soane and Charles Townley, who supported his antiquarian interests.

Early life

James Christie was born in 1773 in Pall Mall, London, as the eldest son of James Christie the Elder, a prominent auctioneer in London. Educated at Eton College, he was initially groomed for a career in the clergy but demonstrated a strong passion for classical studies. After his father's passing in 1803, he abandoned plans for ordination and assumed control of Christie's auction house.

Auctioneering

Under James Christie's guidance, Christie's cemented its status as London's leading fine art auction house. Although few sales matched the dramatic successes achieved by his father, he conducted major auctions such as Ottley's Italian Primitives (1811), Nollekens's models (1823), and Lawrence's collection (1830). Unlike his father, who collaborated with partners, he operated independently despite the firm's rapid growth.

His skills as an auctioneer were well regarded but somewhat eclipsed by his father's renowned legacy. William Roberts remarked that his achievements were "only slightly below his capabilities as a writer." Satirist William Henry Ireland commended Christie's scholarly approach and vendor acumen but wittily noted occasional mistakes, highlighting a contrast with his father's expertise. His obituary acknowledged him for elevating auctioneering into a respected profession through diligent scholarship and refined artistic judgment.

Scholarship and antiquarianism

Outside of business, Christie devoted himself to historical and classical scholarship. His inaugural work, An Inquiry Into the Ancient Greek Game (1801), investigated chess's origins, attributing it to Ancient Greece and specifically to the game of Petteia. The British Critic lauded its erudition despite some inaccuracies, while Charles Tomlinson later described Christie's reasoning as "ingenious."

Christie forged a close relationship with classical collector Charles Towneley, which inspired his research on Etruscan vase painting. This led to A Disquisition upon Etruscan Vases (1806), privately printed and later expanded into Disquisitions upon the painted Greek Vases (1825). In this work, he proposed that vase figures derived from imagery used in religious dramas associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries, suggesting that vase painters created shadow projections serving as funerary commemorations. Additionally, Christie introduced a Linnaean-style classification system for these vases, regarded as his most enduring scholarly contribution. Contemporary critiques found the book insightful though challenging for general audiences.

In 1814, he released An Essay on that Earliest Species of Idolatry: The Worship of the Elements, examining elemental motifs across early European and Asian faiths, including Chinese beliefs illustrated with colored plates. While generally praised for plausible theories, it attracted some criticism for frequent scriptural citations. In 1822, he authored a study on the Lanti Vase—a significant piece of Greek pottery depicting classical masks and theatrical scenes—for Outline Engravings, and Descriptions of the Woburn Abbey Marbles.

Christie's intellectual pursuits also encompassed fine art, poetry, and biblical studies. He was elected to the Society of Dilettanti in 1824 and joined the Athenaeum in 1826. Additionally, he served as registrar for the Royal Literary Fund and belonged to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, reflecting his prominence within classical scholarship circles.

After his death, Christie's son privately published An Inquiry into the Early History of Greek Sculpture (1833) in a limited edition. Originally intended as an introduction to Vol. 2 of the Dilettanti Society's Specimens of Ancient Sculpture (1836), it was ultimately replaced by an essay from Richard Payne Knight due to its speculative content.

Personal life and death

Ireland remarked that "his private character would withstand the closest scrutiny." Christie developed friendships with several distinguished intellectuals, all described in his obituary as individuals of "exceptional moral and intellectual stature." Among his closest associates was Sir John Soane, the Freemason and architect, who shared Christie's fascination with ancient religious traditions. Christie regularly sent Soane copies of his publications, and Soane extended an invitation to him for the lamplight unveiling of Pharaoh Seti I's tomb—a significant event Christie regrettably missed, noting its importance in relation to his own theories.

Two portraits from Christie's era have survived: a bust created in 1826 by William Behnes, which was drawn by Henry Corbould and Robert Graves, and a drawing from 1821 by E. Turner, now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.

In 1824, Christie relocated to 8 King Street in St James's Square, London, coinciding with the recent move of Christie's "Great Rooms" in late 1823. After enduring a lengthy illness, he passed away at his residence on 2 February 1831 at the age of fifty-eight. His death was noted in The Gentleman's Magazine. He was survived by two sons: George Henry Christie (died 1887), who continued the family enterprise alongside partners Thomas H. Woods and William Manson, and James Stirling (died 1834). The final family member involved with the firm was James H. B. Christie, George’s grandson, who retired in 1889; following his departure, Christie's ceased to be a family-run business.

Sources

External links

Works