2 OF 2

Study for 'Patrons and Lovers of Art'

2 of 2 portraits of William Holwell-Carr

by Pieter Christoffel Wonder
oil on canvas, 1826-1830
24 1/2 in. x 18 1/2 in. (622 mm x 470 mm)
Given by Edward Joseph, 1888
Primary Collection
NPG 792

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Sittersback to top

William Holwell-Carr (1758-1830), Connoisseur. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Sir John Murray, 8th Bt (1768?-1827), General. Sitter in 1 portrait.
George Watson Taylor (1771-1841), Collector. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Pieter Christoffel Wonder (1780-1852), Painter. Sitter in 1 portrait, Artist of 4 portraits.

Artistback to top

Pieter Christoffel Wonder (1780-1852), Painter. Artist of 4 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This is a preliminary study for Wonder's painting of an imaginary gallery hung with pictures from famous British collections. The portraits depict the main art collectors of the period. The composition celebrates the role of individual benefactors in the much celebrated foundation of the National Gallery (1824). On the left, kneeling in front of Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne, is George Watson Taylor (1771-1841), a collector of Italian Renaissance paintings. On the right, top hat in hand, is Sir John Murray (1768?-1827) who commissioned Wonder's painting. Next to him, leaning forward, is the Rev. William Holwell-Carr (1758-1830), a benefactor of the newly formed National Gallery. Behind them, holding his palette, is the artist himself.