(1761 - 1824), 2nd s. of Rev. Robert Graham of Norton Conyers, Yorks; Magd. Oxf. 1778; suc. bro. 1782; cr. Bt. 1783; m. 1785 Ldy. Catherine Stewart, dau. of 7th E. of Galloway [S]; MP 1798 - 1807.
1783 - 4 [dep. Dover Dec. 1782] Turin (by 19 Oct. 1783), Genoa (Oct.), Parma, Bologna (11 Nov.), Rome (by 20 Dec. 1783 - ), Naples (by 17 Jan. - Feb. 1784), Rome (2 Mar. - 21 Apr.), Florence ( - 8 May), Venice (15 May), Padua (27 May), Verona (29 May), Mantua (30 May) [Geneva by 28 Jun. 1784]
Sir James travelled with the Rev. Thomas Brand (c.1751 - 1814), whose letters supply the itinerary for their tour. They had spent a year in France and Switzerland before reaching Turin in October 1783 and on the 19th they were presented at Court by De Souza, the Portuguese minister.1 In Bologna Brand wrote how they dined together, but he would put Graham 'under the care of the Ladies' while he looked at 'the great Pictures' by himself.2 Their paths frequently crossed those of William and Richard Assheton, Thomas Pitt (b.c.1758) and the Berrys in Turin, Genoa, Parma and Rome,3 where Graham and Brand had arrived by 20 December. Both sat to Angelica Kauffman, probably that same month.4 By 17 January they were in Naples, where Dr Parkinson first noticed them.5 Parkinson was attending Jonas Brooke, a College friend of Graham's, and the two spent much time together in Italy thereafter (see Jonas Brooke).
In March and April 1784 they were both at Rome in a party of seven following a course of antiquities under James Byres6 and on 21 April they attended a large dinner at the Villa Madama, among the many other guests being Lady Elizabeth Foster and Sir George and Lady Warren. Graham and Brand left Rome at the end of April, passing through Florence and Bologna on their way to Venice, which they reached on 15 May.7 It was either in Florence or Venice that Graham sat to H.D. Hamilton, whose portrait was seen in his studio in Florence on 12 November 1784 and considered 'as like as possible'.8 Brand mentioned two 'very pretty' pictures which Graham had bought from 'the little Canonico's brother', apparently at Bologna.9 Sir James Hall joined them in Venice, and on 27 May they went together to Padua. Hall's journal records Graham being with him in Verona on 29 May and in Mantua the following day.(10) By the end of June Brand and Graham were in Geneva.(11)
1. AST cf. 2. Brand letters mss e (11 Nov. 1783). 3. Berry Jnls., 1:37, 41, 48, 56. 4. Kauffman 1924, 144. 5. Parkinson jnl.mss (18 Jan., 2 Mar., 21 Apr., 8 May 1784). 6. Brand letters mss d (26 Mar. 1784). 7. ASV is 760. 8. Hall jnl.mss 6326, f.200v. 9. Brand letters mss d (16 May 1784). 10. Hall jnl.mss 6325, ff.49, 73v, 79. 11. Berry Jnls., 1:120 (28 Jun. 1784).