print
- Museum number
- 1902,1011.6391
- Title
- Object: Mr Chalmers of the Theatre Royal
- Description
-
Portrait in character as Midas, whole-length standing facing front, left hand on hip, right hand raised, gesturing as he speaks, looking out to right, wearing a ridiculously large wig, embroidered waistcoat, lace cravat, lace at the cuffs and a coat with large cuffs; after Williams.
Mezzotint
- Production date
- 1769 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 492 millimetres (trimmed, see 1933,1014.400)
-
Width: 348 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- According to Bromley (p.399), the sitter's name was James, and the print dated 1765. William Williams was active in Norwich c. 1768-70, which would suggest a date of around that time.
David Solkin (email Aug 2023): Williams' original oil was exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1769 (no. 204), under the title 'A small whole length of Mr Chalmers of the Theatre in Norwich, in the character of Midas'. Horace Walpole notes that 'there is a print of it' - so the mezzotint's date of production is likely to be 1769, and certainly not later than that.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1902
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1902,1011.6391