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Portrait of Jonathan Richardson the Younger

Maker

(artist)
1667-1745

Title

Portrait of Jonathan Richardson the Younger

Date of Production

(4 June) 1736

Medium

graphite on parchment

Dimensions

Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 12.9 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.1986

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

Some of the most informal of Richardson’s portrait drawings represent his son, whom he often drew as they sat talking together at home. Jonathan Junior’s pose here seems to suggest that he is lost in profound thought, although an inscription on the back, apparently in his own hand, reads: ‘Head Ach’.

Provenance

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; Sotheby's (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, n.d.; 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. 22
ill. on p. 69

Gibson-Wood, Carol, 'Jonathan Richardson as a Draftsman' in 'Master Drawings', 1994 - 203-229; 32, no. 3
p. 209
fig. 7 on p. 210
see attached PDF

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 40

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: n/a.

Inscription: Verso: upper centre, graphite, possibly in Jonathan Richardson the younger's hand: "Head Ach"; lower right, graphite, dated: "4 June 1736".

Collector's mark: Recto: lower right corner, stamped in black: Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2170). Verso: 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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