Early Georgian Portraits Catalogue: Whitehead
Paul Whitehead (1710-74)
Satirist; studied law in the Temple; confined several years in Fleet prison, London, whence he issued political squibs, including State Dunces, 1733; published Manners, 1739, and Honour, 1747; paid hanger-on of the 'Prince's friends'; secretary and steward of the 'monks of Medmenham Abbey'; held a subordinate post in the treasury; spent last years at Twickenham; was severely criticised by Churchill in his satires (1763-64); collected works published, 1777.
1679 Called Paul Whitehead, by John Downman, 1770
Oil on canvas, 29 ¾ x 25 1/8 in. (756 x 639 mm); blue-grey eyes, dark grey brows, white wig, sallow complexion; white cravat and ruffles, buff coat; light brown background shading to dark brown; green drapery to left.
Signed Jn° Downman / pinx 1770 to left of sitter.
When or why the name of Whitehead became attached to this portrait, which bears no resemblance to other likenesses of the satirist, is not recorded. A replica, also signed and dated 1770, was sold at Christie's as a portrait of John Howard the philanthropist on 31 July 1925, lot 141, and again at Sotheby's on 13 March 1946, lot 69. Another replica or copy, without date or signature, was sold at Sotheby's as an unknown gentleman by J. Wright of Derby on 4 June 1958, lot 98.
Condition:much retouching to face (particularly tip of nose), coat and background.
Collections:Given 1912 by the Hon. Evan Charteris, who had purchased it from Shepherd Bros; from the collection of Captain G. Bramwell (d.1905) of Chalcot Gardens, NW3.
Iconography
A portrait by Gainsborough was engraved by Collyer in 1777 and by Rolls in 1821, when in the possession of a Mrs Morris. John Michael Williams exhibited a painting of Whitehead at the Free Society of Artists in 1762 (1), but its whereabouts is also unknown. The sitter was sculpted by Roubiliac; two versions were in the sculptor's posthumous sale, 12-15 May, 1742, being lots 14 of the first day and 15 of the third day, [1] and Mrs Esdaile attributed a bust at West Wycombe to him. [2] An engraving by an unknown artist depicts Whitehead in profile and reproduces the memorial verses on the urn containing his heart at West Wycombe Church.