Self-portrait
Maker
(artist)
1667-1745
1667-1745
Title
Self-portrait
Date of Production
4 May 1728
Medium
black and white chalk on blue laid paper, a section of lower right edge made up
Dimensions
Height: 48.3 cm
Width: 30.9 cm
Width: 30.9 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.1552
Mode of Acquisition
Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
Jonathan Richardson was a prolific self-portraitist and frequently used blue paper, which provided a more subtle mid-tone for his chalks compared to white paper. Blue paper was also readily available, as it was widely produced to wrap white goods such as paper and sugar. In addition, he may have chosen blue paper for its historic association with venerable Venetian Renaissance artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese, whose drawings were well-represented in Richardson’s own collection of over 4,700 works.
Provenance
the artist's collection, L.2184; presumably by descent to his son, Jonathan Richardson, the younger, London (1694-1771); presumably his estate sale, Langford & Son (London), 5 February - 12 February 1772, any number of lots; Sotheby's (London), 17-18 April 1923, lot 128; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£5); Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
Drawn to Blue: Artists' use of Blue Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 04/10/2024-26/01/2025
Jonathan Richardson by himself, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 24/06/2015-20/09/2015
Portrait of the Artist as ..., The Courtauld Gallery, London, 26/06/2012-22/07/2012 ...More
Three Centuries of British Watercolours and Drawings, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1951
Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934 ...Less
Jonathan Richardson by himself, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 24/06/2015-20/09/2015
Portrait of the Artist as ..., The Courtauld Gallery, London, 26/06/2012-22/07/2012 ...More
Three Centuries of British Watercolours and Drawings, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1951
Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934 ...Less
Literature
Jonathan Richardson by himself, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2015
cat. no. 1
Illus. on p. 23 and detail on cover
Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 39
Three Centuries of British Watercolours and Drawings, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1951
cat. no. 141 ...More
Russell, John, British Portrait Painters, 1944
p. 19
British Art Exhibition: commemorative catalogue, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1934
cat. no. 1095
no. 557
pl. CXLIII
Collins Baker, C.H., 'Some Drawings by Jonathan Richardson in the Witt Collection' in 'The Connoisseur', December 1925
pp. 201-02
no. IV on p. 198 ...Less
cat. no. 1
Illus. on p. 23 and detail on cover
Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 39
Three Centuries of British Watercolours and Drawings, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1951
cat. no. 141 ...More
Russell, John, British Portrait Painters, 1944
p. 19
British Art Exhibition: commemorative catalogue, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1934
cat. no. 1095
no. 557
pl. CXLIII
Collins Baker, C.H., 'Some Drawings by Jonathan Richardson in the Witt Collection' in 'The Connoisseur', December 1925
pp. 201-02
no. IV on p. 198 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: centre: Strasburg bend and lily (11.5 cm high; unable to identify without the countermark).
Label: Cutting from old catalogue entry, pasted on to mount backing, with artist's information and basic details of the drawing. Listed as no. 141, therefore likely from Ford, 'Three centuries of British water-colours', 1951.
Collector's mark: Recto: right centre edge, stamped in black ink: Jonathan Richardson, the elder (L.2184). Verso: lower right corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Inscription: Recto: lower centre, brown ink: “Richardson Senr by himself”; lower right corner, black chalk, dated by the artist: “4 May 1728”.
Label: Cutting from old catalogue entry, pasted on to mount backing, with artist's information and basic details of the drawing. Listed as no. 141, therefore likely from Ford, 'Three centuries of British water-colours', 1951.
Collector's mark: Recto: right centre edge, stamped in black ink: Jonathan Richardson, the elder (L.2184). Verso: lower right corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Inscription: Recto: lower centre, brown ink: “Richardson Senr by himself”; lower right corner, black chalk, dated by the artist: “4 May 1728”.
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