A Bravura at the Hanover Square Concert

Sittersback to top

• James Cervetto (1747-1837), Cellist and composer. Sitter in 2 portraits.
• Luigi Marchesi (1755-1829), Italian male soprano. Sitter in 3 portraits.

Artistback to top

• John Nixon (1760-1818). Artist associated with 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Between 1783 and 1793, the Hanover Square Rooms in London hosted a series of concerts which featured some of the most fashionable Italian musicians of the day. Pictured here are Luigi Marchesi, called Marchesini, one of the last great 'castrati', and the cellist, James Cervetto. Below them in the pit the artist has drawn a vignette of members of the audience. An unidentified member of the aristocracy wearing the sash and star of the garter can be seen in addition to a gentleman whose face, much like Marchesini's, bears the scars of smallpox. Hidden in the shadows at the far left is the cellist's father, the musician Giacobbe Cervetto, listening intently to his son's playing.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 517
• Rogers, Malcolm, Master Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery, 1993 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 August to 23 October 1994), p. 71
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 722

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Late Eighteenth Century Prints and Drawings (17 April 2004 - 5 September 2004)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Known interiors
• Making music