An almost full-length portrait, slightly to the right, showing Denny in a grey suit under a brown Raglan cape, worn with the sleeves loose. His right hand and left thumb are in his trouser pockets. The painting is signed and dated: George Henry 1907’. The portrait was commissioned by his constituents in Kilmarnock.
John McAusland Denny was the fourth son of Peter Denny. He worked on the commercial side of the family shipbuilding form, Denny of Dumbarton, travelling widely to secure orders. He represented Kilmarnock as a Conservative MP from 1895 to 1906. He was an honorary colonel of the 9th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a volunteer regiment he commanded. He became chairman of Denny’s in 1919.