John Downman
(1750-1824), ArtistArtist associated with 33 portraits
Studied briefly in Liverpool, then, from 1769, under Benjamin West, president of the Royal Academy. He spent the years 1773-5 in Italy; on his return he set himself up as a portrait painter in Cambridge. By 1779, he had returned to London and was gaining a reputation as one of the most fashionable portraitists of the day. He was patronised by the royal family, as well as such figures as the Duchess of Devonshire and the Duchess of Richmond. His popularity was largely dependent on his ability to work quickly and in quantity. In order to do so he gave up portraits in oil and devised a technique of working in chalks that allowed him to reproduce up to ten or twelve versions of the same portrait.
Unknown man, formerly known as Paul Whitehead
by John Downman
oil on canvas, 1770
NPG 1679
by John Downman
oil on copper, 1777
NPG 6264
by John Downman
watercolour, 1780
NPG 1719a
Constantine John Phipps, 2nd Baron Mulgrave
by John Downman
watercolour and pencil, 1782
NPG 966
by John Downman
watercolour, 1785
NPG 4590
attributed to John Downman
oil on copper, circa 1786
NPG 6091
by John Downman
chalk, 1787
NPG 2651
by John Downman
pencil, 1804
NPG 4079
by John Downman
watercolour, 1814
NPG 4377
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after John Downman
mezzotint, published 1779
NPG D39805
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after John Downman
mezzotint, published 1779
NPG D4039
Jeanne Baptiste (née Maillard), Lady Caldwell
by John Downman
pencil and watercolour, 1780s
NPG D4407
Maria Josepha Stanley (née Holroyd), Lady Stanley of Alderley; Louisa Dorothea Clinton (née Holroyd)
by and published by John Baldrey, after John Downman
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 1 January 1783
NPG D15310
by Joseph Grozer, after John Downman
mezzotint, published 1786
NPG D32512
by Joseph Grozer, after John Downman
mezzotint, published 1786
NPG D32513
by and published by John Jones, after John Downman
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1787
NPG D35135
by and published by John Jones, after John Downman
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1787
NPG D35136
Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire
by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by M. Lawson, after John Downman
stipple engraving, (1787)
NPG D35166
Elizabeth (née Farren), Countess of Derby
by Joseph Collyer the Younger, published by M. Lawson, after John Downman
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1788
NPG D35131
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