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Profile self-portrait

Maker

(artist)
1667-1745

Title

Date of Production

(5 October) 1732

Medium

black, red and white chalk on blue laid paper

Dimensions

Height: 37.8 cm
Width: 27.2 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.3932

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

The introduction of red chalk here produces a more naturalistic appearance than black and white alone. The red line Richardson has used to define the contour of his face is drawn over the top of a fainter black line, giving a softer impression. Chalk is a versatile medium because it is soft and responsive enough to work rapidly on a large scale, whilst it can also be sharpened to a point for fine linear detail.

Provenance

Jonathan Richardson, the elder (1665-1745), L.2184; presumably by descent to his son, Jonathan Richardson, the younger (1694-1771); presumably his sale, Langford and Son (London), 5 - 12 February 1772; John F. Keane, Cambridge; his sale, Sotheby's (London), 3 December 1947, lot 91; purchased there by Colnaghi (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b (£8, along with D.1952.RW.3931); 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

Drawing in 18th Century Britain, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/03/1995-21/05/1995

Literature

Jonathan Richardson by himself, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2015
cat. no. 7

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

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: on a separate slip of blue laid paper laid down on the lower left corner, red chalk, dated: "5 Oct 1732".

Collector's mark: Recto: lower right, stamped in black: Jonathan Richardson, the elder (L.2184). Verso: stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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