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Portrait of Henri Rochefort (recto)
Caricature sketch of the head of a man (verso)

Maker

(artist)
1860-1942

Title

Portrait of Henri Rochefort (recto)
Caricature sketch of the head of a man (verso)

Date of Production

(circa) 1890

Medium

graphite, pen and black ink with extensive scratching out (white is caused by scratching out not chalk or bodycolour) (recto), pen and black ink (verso) on card

Dimensions

Height: 29.1 cm
Width: 22.4 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.4240

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

Rochefort (1831–1913) was a French journalist, politician and writer who campaigned against the Second Empire. His portrait, drawn from life, was included in the Pall Mall Budget in 1893. It is one of a series of portraits of distinguished people, which Sickert contributed to the journal. Sickert’s bold drawing in pen and ink projects something of the dignity and flamboyance of his sitter. The vigorous scratching of the paper in an area that needed correction demonstrates Sickert’s energetic approach to the medium of drawing.

Provenance

given by Mrs Halkett to Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Special Display - Works by Sickert, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 05/10/2007-20/01/2008

Sickert, 1860-1942: an exhibition of paintings and drawings, Northampton Art Gallery; Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery; Derby Museum and Art Gallery; etc., 1964

Literature

Baron, Wendy, Sickert: paintings and drawings, New Haven and London, 2006
no. 57.16
ill. on p. 189

Sickert: paintings, Royal Academy of Arts, London; Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, 1992-1993, 1992
fig. 107 on p. 128

Sickert, 1860-1942: an exhibition of paintings and drawings, Northampton Art Gallery; Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery; Derby Museum and Art Gallery; etc., 1964
cat. no. 29 ...More

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 46

Lou Keplac, Sickert Drawings: The Painter's Eye, Sydney: The Beagle press, 2022
p. 62- 63, 220 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: upper right, black ink, signed: “Sickert_”; lower right, black ink, described: “Henri Rochefort”; lower right, graphite: “4 base by Tuesday at 12”. Verso: upper left, graphite, hard to read: “Pl[...] 2 Bth L[...]”; upper centre, graphite: “Please return / to / W. Sickert / The Vale / Kings Road / Chelsea”; upper right, graphite: “PMB / 8535”; lower centre, graphite, 'hal' crossed out: “Reduce to half same size / as 2 LAbouchere”; lower right corner, graphite: “#15”.

Collector's mark: none.

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