John Snare
John Snare | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1811 England |
| Died | 1884-01-10 |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, publisher |
| Known for | Discovery of a lost Velázquez painting |
John Snare (baptized 31 July 1808, born circa 1811, died 10 January 1884) was an English bookseller and publisher based in Reading. His professional life became notable due to his 1845 acquisition at a rural estate auction of a painting by Diego Velázquez that had been considered lost. Snare identified the artwork as a youthful portrait of Charles Stuart, believed to have been created in 1623 during Charles' diplomatic visit to Spain, where he sought to marry the Spanish princess Maria Anna, a proposal that ultimately failed.
A protracted legal dispute over the painting's ownership unfolded in Scotland, involving trustees managing the estate of the Earl of Fife, which resulted in Snare facing financial devastation. Following the conclusion of the litigation, he relocated to New York City. Upon his passing, ownership of the Velázquez painting transferred to his son, and it was briefly displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1885. Since then, the artwork has disappeared entirely; no visual records survive except for Snare’s detailed accounts.
In 2016, art historian Laura Cumming narrated Snare’s tale in her publication, The Vanishing Man: A 19th Century Bookseller's Obsession with a Lost Masterpiece (Chatto & Windus).
Selected publications
- The Post-Office Reading directory. Compiled ... by John Snare. John Snare, Reading, 1842.
- Snare's map of the country ten miles round Reading, compiled ... under the superintendence of M. Dodd. Reading, 1846. (map)
- The history and pedigree of the portrait of Prince Charles (afterwards Charles I) painted by Velasquez in 1623. 1847.
- A brief description of the portrait of Prince Charles, afterwards Charles the First, painted at Madrid, in 1623, by Velasquez: now exhibiting at No. 21, Old Bond Street, London. London, 1847.