James Hay is best known as the owner of the world famous painting of Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife by Jan van Eyck before it was sold to the National Gallery in London in 1842 for 600 pounds. The painting had belonged to the Spanish Royal Collection and probably came into Hay’s possession when looted items were appropriated from Joseph Bonaparte’s wagons when they were intercepted in Spain. However, Hay claims that he bought the painting from his landlord when he was in Brussels in 1815. He tried to curry favour with the Prince Regent by offering the painting to him. His Highness took it on approval but returned it after two years.
Hay was born around 1780, the son of John Hay in Braco, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. He was an officer in the 16th Lancers from 1795 and served with great distinction in the Peninsula War, having his arm broken at Salamanca. He gained distinction when he led the regiment against the Lancers de Berg, defeating them and capturing 70 men and a senior officer. He fought at Quatre Bras and Waterloo where he was very seriously injured, so much so that he had to remain on the field of Waterloo for 8 days. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general and was appointed CB. On 8 Feb 1849 he was appointed Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders, a position he held until his death on 25 Feb 1854. His family seat was near Kilburn, County Longford, Ireland. The portrait is by William Salter, not known for accurate likenesses of his sitters. He is wearing the uniform of the 16th Lancers c1825.
