print
- Museum number
- 1886,1127.29
- Title
- Object: Samuel Cousins RA
- Description
-
Portrait of Samuel Cousins after Holl, three-quarter-length, turned to the left, sitting on chair with right arm resting on the arm of the chair; a painting at left; artist's proof, with publication detail in italic lettering. 1881
Etching on imitation vellum
- Production date
- 1881
- Dimensions
-
Height: 442 millimetres (image; platemark mostly invisible)
-
Width: 245 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Declared to the Printsellers' Association on 28 September 1881. As pointed out by Donato Esposito (email 20 July 2009) the painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1879 (no.189) and, following the publication of this print, at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh in 1882 (no.116). The painting seen at the left is Reynolds' 'The strawberry girl' in the Wallace Collection, London (Mannings 2165).
The print received much critical praise upon publication in 1881; 'Memorials of a man [such as Samuel Cousins] who has accomplished so much are not without interest; and it was partly for this reason, perhaps, that Mr. Holl's portrait of him attracted so much attention when it appeared at the Royal Academy in 1879. The veteran engraver, it may be remembered, is represented sitting in a chair at a table, with his face half turned to the beholder. An etching of this picture has now been executed by Mr. Waltner. Both the face and the accessories are finely treated, and the whole is distinguished by a depth of tone and richness of effect too often absent from etchings in which such qualities may fairly be looked for' ('New etchings', 'The Times', 3 December 1881, p.11).
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1886
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1886,1127.29