Head of a blind man asleep, with his head on a pillow
Maker
John Greenwood (artist)
1727-1792
1727-1792
Title
Head of a blind man asleep, with his head on a pillow
Date of Production
1760
Medium
black chalk on laid paper, with brown ink framing lines
Dimensions
Height: 17.8 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Accession Number
D.1982.JW.1
Mode of Acquisition
John Witt, Art Fund bequest & grant aid, 1982
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
Born in Boston, the little-known portrait painter and engraver John Greenwood was also active in Amsterdam, where he is documented as a member of the Drawing Academy in 1758. In this sketch he captures a man with his head resting on his left arm. His features are relaxed in sleep, with the mouth slightly open. Greenwood’s inscription explains that this is a blind man, portrayed on 29 July 1760 as he was sitting on Amsterdam’s Nieuwe brug (New bridge).
Provenance
E. Parsons & Sons (London); purchased there by Sir John Clermont Witt, London (1907-1982), January 1925 (30 shillings); John Witt Bequest via the Art Fund 1982
Exhibition History
Drawings Gallery Display - Unseen, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 15/01/2015-29/03/2015
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: none.
Inscription: Recto, along lower edge, brown ink (same as framing lines), signed and dated by the artist: "Portret van een Blindeman op de Nieuwenbrúg Sittende na't Leven J:Greewood 29 Jl. 1760". Verso: lower left, graphite: "104".
Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black ink: John Clermont Witt (L.646a).
Inscription: Recto, along lower edge, brown ink (same as framing lines), signed and dated by the artist: "Portret van een Blindeman op de Nieuwenbrúg Sittende na't Leven J:Greewood 29 Jl. 1760". Verso: lower left, graphite: "104".
Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black ink: John Clermont Witt (L.646a).
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