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Self-portrait in profile

Maker

(artist)
1667-1745

Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1694-1771

Title

Date of Production

(7 October) 1732

Medium

graphite on parchment

Dimensions

Height: 14 cm
Width: 11.9 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.1663

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

In Richardson’s day gentlemen wore wigs in public, and consequently shaved their heads. Although he often represented himself wearing the soft cap he would habitually have worn at home, here he has chosen to draw his bare head in profile. The profile portrait, such as that found on coins and medals, was closely associated with classical antiquity. Its severely pared-down mode of representation was thought to convey nobility and authority – while still distinctly expressing individual character.

Provenance

the artist, Jonathan Richardson, the elder (1665-1745), L.2184; by descent to his son, Jonathan Richardson Junior (1694-1771), L.2170; presumably his sale, Langford and Son (London), 5 - 12 February 1772; John Barnard, London (1709-1784), L.1419; Sotheby's (London), 25 - 26 June 1923, lot 40 (with D.1952.RW.1660 and 1662); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£1); Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

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

Literature

Jonathan Richardson by himself, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2015
cat. no. 8

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 39

Collins Baker, C.H., 'Some Drawings by Jonathan Richardson in the Witt Collection' in 'The Connoisseur', December 1925
p. 202
Illus. on p. 201, no. VIII

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: n/a.

Inscription: Recto: lower right, graphite, dated: "7 Oct 1732". Verso: upper left corner, graphite, unclear: "L/f [?]"; lower centre, graphite, circled: "1662"; lower right corner, graphite: "5/".

Collector's mark: Recto: lower right, stamped in black: Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2170) Verso: upper right, written in brown ink: John Barnard (L.1419); lower right, stamped in black: Jonathan Richardson, the elder (L.2184); lower right corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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