Karl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787), Composer and concert impresario

Sitter in 5 portraits
A merchant by profession, John Nixon was a talented amateur artist who exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1784 and 1815. He was also a clever caricaturist whose travels around Britain and intimate friendship with the dramatist Elizabeth, Margravine of Anspach gave him privileged access to fashionable circles in London, Brighton and Bath. This caricature of 1787 depicts Carl Friedrich Abel, a German musician who played at the court of Dresden before coming to London in 1759. He shared a house with J.C. Bach from 1762-73 and became a chamber musician to Queen Charlotte. Famed as much for his fondess of drink as for his virtuoso playing, Abel's characteristic dishevelment is communicated admirably by Nixon's ragged pen strokes.