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Private View of the Old Masters Exhibition, Royal Academy, 1888

1 of 12 portraits of (Marion Margaret) Violet Manners (née Lindsay), Duchess of Rutland

Private View of the Old Masters Exhibition, Royal Academy, 1888, by Henry Jamyn Brooks, 1889 - NPG - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Private View of the Old Masters Exhibition, Royal Academy, 1888

by Henry Jamyn Brooks
oil on canvas, 1889
60 7/8 in. x 106 7/8 in. (1545 mm x 2715 mm)
Given by Henry Jamyn Brooks, 1919
Primary Collection
NPG 1833


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Artistback to top

  • Henry Jamyn Brooks (1839-1925), Painter. Artist associated with 4 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

Sittersback to top

This portraitback to top

For the hundred years subsequent to its foundation in 1768, the Royal Academy of Arts dominated the contemporary British art scene. The annual exhibition, open to all-comers, was the proving ground for an artist's skill and reputation. Henry Jamyn Brooks was inspired to paint this group portrait by the example of William Powell Frith's painting The Private View at the Royal Academy, 1881. Brooks did not choose to depict, like Frith, the Summer Exhibition of contemporary art but instead one of the Winter Loan Exhibitions of Old Master paintings which began in 1870. The portrait features the cream of late Victorian society, including many leading artists, gathered before a display of fine paintings in Room 3 of the Royal Academy.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG x22540: Sir George Scharf (includes the portrait)
  • NPG x22541: Sir George Scharf (includes the portrait)
  • NPG x22542: Sir George Scharf (includes the portrait)
  • NPG D42236: Key to Private View of the Old Masters Exhibition, Royal Academy, 1888 (source portrait)

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Subjects & Themesback to top