Portrait of Mary Somerville, née Fairfax (1780-1872) (recto)
Maker
(artist)
1778-1855
1778-1855
Title
Portrait of Mary Somerville, née Fairfax (1780-1872) (recto)
Date of Production
1821
Medium
graphite (recto), watercolour (verso) on laid paper
Dimensions
Height: 31 cm
Width: 23.1 cm
Width: 23.1 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.3389
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
Provenance
anonymous sale, Sotheby's (London), 15 December 1943, lot 13; purchased there by Colnaghi (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (verso, lower left) (£4); Witt Bequest 1952
Literature
Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 34
p. 34
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: Verso, lower left: "J WHATMAN / 1809".
Inscription: Recto: lower right corner, graphite, dated and signed with initials in monogram: "JM 1821.". Verso: lower centre, graphite: "Mary Somerville, (nee FairFax) / 1780---1872. / married Wm. Somerville (physician), / in 1812. / J. Masquerier delt 1821."; left of centre, graphite, a partial tracing of the watermark: "W / 1809". Mount (removed, see photo), Recto: lower right, graphite: "John James Masquerier / 1778-1855 / Signed J M + dated 1821 / Mary Somerville.".
Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Inscription: Recto: lower right corner, graphite, dated and signed with initials in monogram: "JM 1821.". Verso: lower centre, graphite: "Mary Somerville, (nee FairFax) / 1780---1872. / married Wm. Somerville (physician), / in 1812. / J. Masquerier delt 1821."; left of centre, graphite, a partial tracing of the watermark: "W / 1809". Mount (removed, see photo), Recto: lower right, graphite: "John James Masquerier / 1778-1855 / Signed J M + dated 1821 / Mary Somerville.".
Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
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