Hahlo-118, W.T. Walters and H. Walters, Esq. plaquette

Detail of Leon Gruel’s binding for 
Notes: Critical and Biographical—The W.T. Walters Collection
showing Brenner’s double portrait of Henry and William T. Walters.
The Walters Art Museum  92.94

118. W.T. Walters, Esq. and H. Walters, Esq. Insert for cover of book.

Like the “Chinese” inserts (see #s 20 and 30), this was designed as an insert into the binding of the Walters’ catalogue of French paintings, Notes: Critical and Biographical—Collection of W.T. Walters. Henry Walters (1848-1931) had arranged for his library copy to be specially bound by Léon Gruel (1841-1923) the famous collector and bookbinder in Paris. George A. Lucas (see #s 93 and 121) was acting as Walters agent, giving him the opportunity to commission Brenner for the inserts, including this double portrait of Henry and his father William Thompson Walters (1820-1894).