James Jefferys

Sitterback to top

• James Jefferys (1751-1784), History painter. Sitter in 1 portrait, Artist of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

• James Jefferys (1751-1784), History painter. Artist of 1 portrait, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Jefferys's self-portrait depicts him gazing into the distance, his forehead furrowed in concentration. He holds a 'porte crayon', used for holding chalk, and his hand rests on his unfinished drawing which depicts a biblical scene, The Massacre of the Innocents. The books, labelled Spencer, Homer, Milton and Nature, present his talent as rooted in the study of history, the classics, poetry and observation. This image not only promotes Jefferys as an artist but also celebrates drawing by using it to symbolise artistic inspiration.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 284
• 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. 55
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 334

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• The Art of Drawing: Portraits from the Collection, 1670-1780 (19 October 2012 - 19 May 2013)
• Late Eighteenth Century Prints and Drawings (17 April 2004 - 5 September 2004)

Subject/Themeback to top

• Self-portraits