drawing;
album
- Museum number
- 1967,1014.181.150
- Description
-
Study for a portrait of Miss Wale, a favourite of Mr Brundish of Caius College, oval. 1778
Charcoal, touched with red and black chalk
- Production date
- 1778
- Dimensions
-
Height: 151 millimetres
-
Width: 124 millimetres (oval)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This drawing is in Volume 4 of the Third Series of Downman's 'First Sketches of Portraits of distinguished persons'. For further details see 1936,1116.27.1.
A study of her sister Mary Wale follows in the same volume (1967,1014.181.151). A study of Mr Brundish with his friend Mr Mountain is also in this volume (1967,1014.181.181).
Brundish published 'An Elegy on a Family-Tomb' in 1783, a copy of which in the British Library has an inscription to ‘Miss Wale’ in a contemporary (or near-contemporary) hand in the margin (11632.e.27).
Two other studies of Mary Wale, plus studies of Thomas, Margaretta Philippina, and Peggy Wale, all also drawn in 1778 and presumably members of the same family, are found in Volumes 3 and 5 of the second series of Downman's 'First Sketches' now in the Fitzwilliam Museum (Munro, Jane, 'John Downman 1750-1824: Landscape, figure studies and portraits of 'Distinguished persons' (Cambridge 1996), nos.1883-6 and 1925, pp.91-2).
A finished pastel of Peggy Wale (1743-c1815), 'a noted beauty', who became the first wife of Rev Michael Tyson, based on the first sketch in the Fitzwilliam, was sold by auction at Jakobowicz & Associés, at Maincy, on 5 December 2010, lot 193 (details in dossier).
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1967
- Acquisition notes
- See Jane Munro, 'John Downman 1750-1824', exhibition catalogue, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, p.77.
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1967,1014.181.150
