Thursday, February 23, 2023

Portrait-Making (Literal and Fanciful) - XII

Thomas Gainsborough
Portrait of Mary and Margaret, the Artist's Daughters
ca. 1758
oil on canvas
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Thomas Gainsborough
Portrait of Mary and Margaret, the Artist's Daughters
chasing a Butterfly
ca. 1756
oil on canvas
National Gallery, London

Thomas Gainsborough
Portrait of Mr and Mrs Andrews
ca. 1750
oil on canvas
National Gallery, London

William Hoare
Portrait of a Gentleman in Brown
1750
oil on canvas
Tate Britain

Joseph Highmore
Portrait of John Owen, MP
ca. 1750
oil on canvas
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff

attributed to Arthur Pond
Portrait of Rhoda Astley née Delaval
creating a pastel portrait

ca. 1750
oil on canvas
National Portrait Gallery, London

Giuseppe Bonito
Portrait of the Infanta Maria Luisa
ca. 1750
oil on canvas
Collection of Franco Maria Ricci, Fontanellato

Vito D'Anna
Self Portrait
ca. 1750
oil on canvas
Accademia di San Luca, Rome

follower of Arthur Pond
Portrait of Richard Cooper, Esq.
ca. 1749
oil on canvas
Royal London Hospital Museum

Giuseppe Bonito
Portrait of the Infanta Maria Isabel
1748
oil on canvas
Palacio Real, Madrid

Giuseppe Bonito
Portrait of the Infanta Maria Luisa
1748
oil on canvas
Palacio Real, Madrid

Thomas Gainsborough
Portrait of the Artist with his Family
ca. 1748
oil on canvas
National Gallery, London

Charles-Antoine Coypel
Cheerful Democritus
1746
oil on canvas
private collection

Charles-Antoine Coypel
Sorrowful Heraclitus
1746
oil on canvas
private collection

Arthur Pond
Portrait of Samuel Shepherd
ca. 1745
oil on canvas
Temple Newsam House, Leeds

Giuseppe Bonito
The Turkish Embassy in Naples
1741
oil on canvas
Museo del Prado, Madrid

"But You will justly enquire why I have not written all this time to you?  I answer I have been very Unhappy & could not think of troubling you about it or any of my real Friends (I have written many letters to you which I burnd & did not send) & why I have not before now finished the Miniature I promissed to Mʳˢ Butts?  I answer I have not till now in any degree pleased myself & now I must intreat you to Excuse faults for Portrait Painting is the direct contrary to Designing & Historical Painting in every respect – If you have not Nature before you for Every Touch you cannot Paint Portrait, & if you have Nature before you at all you cannot Paint History; it was Michael Angelos opinion & is Mine.  Pray Give My Wifes love with mine to Mʳˢ Butts, assure her that it cannot be long before I have the pleasure of Painting from you in Person & then that She may Expect a likeness but now I have done All I could & know she will forgive any failure in consideration of the Endeavour." 

– William Blake, from a letter to Thomas Butts, 22 November 1802