BIB_ID
405932
Accession number
MA 4500
Creator
Anonymous, British School, active 19th century.
Published
19th century
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 drawing.
Notes
Watermark: none.
A later reverse copy, with various alterations to the original design, by an unidentified artist, after William Hogarth's 1763 caricature of John Wilkes, "John Wilkes Esqr. Drawn from the life and etch'd in aquafortis by Willm. Hogarth" (published May 16, 1763); possibly intended as a preliminary drawing for a print.
Drawing tipped onto a backing sheet, along with two manuscript notes, probably dating from the early 19th century; the first reading, "Portrait of John Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London / and Member of Parliament for Middlesex. / By William Hogarth,-has been engraved, but this / contains more than the engraving.", below that, "Portrait of John Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London in 1774 and / Member of Parliament for Middlesex.-By William Hogarth. / it has been engraved, but this contains more than the engraving / From Mr. Willet's sale. ...".
A later reverse copy, with various alterations to the original design, by an unidentified artist, after William Hogarth's 1763 caricature of John Wilkes, "John Wilkes Esqr. Drawn from the life and etch'd in aquafortis by Willm. Hogarth" (published May 16, 1763); possibly intended as a preliminary drawing for a print.
Drawing tipped onto a backing sheet, along with two manuscript notes, probably dating from the early 19th century; the first reading, "Portrait of John Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London / and Member of Parliament for Middlesex. / By William Hogarth,-has been engraved, but this / contains more than the engraving.", below that, "Portrait of John Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London in 1774 and / Member of Parliament for Middlesex.-By William Hogarth. / it has been engraved, but this contains more than the engraving / From Mr. Willet's sale. ...".
12 15/16 x 9 1/4 inches (330 x 236 mm)
Provenance
Henry Ralph Willett; from the library of Gordon N. Ray.
Summary
Drawing inspired by Hogarth's caricature, showing John Wilke's, seated, full length, his face turned 3/4 to the left, leaning forward slightly with his right hand on his knee and holding a pole with his left hand brandishing a limp cloth hat(?) inscribed "Liberty" over his left shoulder; at right is a small writing table on which sits an inkstand atop copies of the West Briton, and in the background, a bookcase filled with books is visible; at left, over Wilkes's right hand shoulder, a curtain hangs in folds.
Medium
Pen and black ink on laid paper.
Catalog link
Classification
Department