by-nc

Portrait of Mary Somerville, née Fairfax (1780-1872) (recto)

Maker

(artist)
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

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

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).

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