drawing
- Museum number
- 1967,1014.186
- Description
-
Portrait of Counsellor James White, of Exeter; half-length in profile to right, wearing a wig and unbuttoned jacket, books and papers on the table nearby. 1794
Black chalk and stump, touched with red chalk
- Production date
- 1794
- Dimensions
-
Height: 206 millimetres
-
Width: 173 millimetres (sight measurement)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- This study (with 1967.1014.185, 187, and 188) is unusual in being a finished piece but mounted and inscribed by Downman in the same way as the sketchbooks. These four portraits are from Vol 5 of the first series of Downman's 'First Sketches', now broken up.
This would have been No.24 in the volume.
[Information from Millar Catalogue, No 26 and 27 (P&D Cc.2.21)] 1)]
A later study of James White is found in Volume 3 of the third series of Downman's 'First Sketches' (1967,1014.181.108), with a study of his niece Mrs Abbott (1967,1014.181.109). This is possibly the one drawn for his nephew, the artist John White Abbott.
An earlier study is found in Volume 1 of the second series which is now in the Fitzwilliam Museum (Munro, Jane, 'John Downman 1750-1824: Landscape, figure studies and portraits of 'Distinguished persons' (Cambridge 1996), fig. 4, p.11 and no.1923, p.92).
The present drawing was lent to the Amateur Art Exhibition held at Carlton House Terrace in May 1893, published in Catalogue of Portraits by John Downman , A.R.A (1760-1824), no.65, by Mrs Maitland [P&D N.I.9]]. Four labels (one numbered '52', two with the inscription cited under 'inscription' and a fourth, of a previous owner ('Mrs Arthur Longmore, 18 Lennox Gardens, S.W.1') are now in the dossier for this drawing.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1967
- Acquisition notes
- Kept by Millar in a 'modern frame in "Downman" style.
Mrs Maitland had kept this framed with the inscription folded inside the frame, and so had a modern copy of the inscription pasted on the back. In Nov 1944, Millar had the original inscription cut out and mounted on the back of the frame under cellophane, so it could be replaced when required.
[Information from Millar Catalogue, No 26 (P&D Cc.2.21)]
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1967,1014.186
