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A Disappointed Patron

Maker

(artist)
1823-1891

Title

Date of Production

1837 - 1891

Medium

graphite, pen and brown ink, white bodycolour on wove paper, framed in graphite

Dimensions

Height: 17.7 cm
Width: 22.6 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.3861

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

One of the most prolific and skilful black-and-white illustrators of his time, Keene commented principally on urban social life. Artists, volunteer soldiers, women and youth on the streets were common subjects. He generally drew from life and the characters seen here may come from his numerous London sketchbooks. Keene had a talent for finding humour in the humanity around him. In this intricately-drawn composition, he parodies the conflict between the artist’s creative expression and the expectations of his wealthy patron.

Provenance

Beaux Arts Gallery (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Special Display - Characters and Caricatures, Late Victorian Illustration, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 10/02/2011-08/06/2011

Cartoonists of the British School, East Kent and Folkestone Arts Centre, Folkestone, UK, 16/03/1968-20/04/1968

Literature

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 29

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: Verso, upper edge, cut off: "J WHATM[...]" [as in J WHATMAN].

Inscription: Recto: lower right (within drawing), brown ink, initials in monogram: "CK". Verso: left of centre, graphite: "17 x 14 St"; centre, graphite: "Dark Blue Grey".

Collector's mark: Recto: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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