Charles de Sousy Ricketts

1 portrait

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Charles de Sousy Ricketts

by Charles Haslewood Shannon
oil on canvas, 1898
38 1/4 in. x 39 5/8 in. (972 mm x 1006 mm)
Given by the Art Fund, 1942
Primary Collection
NPG 3106

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Charles Haslewood Shannon (1863-1937), Painter and lithographer. Artist or producer of 11 portraits, Sitter in 12 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Charles Ricketts was an artist, illustrator, theatre designer, author and printer; but he is perhaps best remembered now for his friendship with his fellow artist Charles Shannon. According to William Rothenstein, 'Ricketts, with his pale, delicate features, fair hair and pointed red-gold beard, looked like a Clouet drawing. Half French, he had the quick mind and the rapid speech of a southerner.' This portrait of Ricketts by Shannon was painted two years after Ricketts had founded the Vale Press. It is a record of their friendship, slightly tentative in its character, with Ricketts turning his head away so that he is seen in profile. He liked it precisely for this reason since it shows him 'turning away from the 20th century to think only of the 15th.' It is labelled on the back 'The Man in an Inverness Cloak'.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 3107: Charles Haslewood Shannon (companion portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Smartify image discovery app
  • Edited by Lucy Peltz & Louise Stewart, Love Stories: Art, Passion & Tragedy, 2020, p. 129
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 167
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 167 Read entry

    Charles Ricketts was an artist, illustrator, theatre designer, author and printer; but he is perhaps best remembered now for his friendship with his fellow artist Charles Shannon. According to Rothenstein, 'Ricketts, with his pale, delicate features, fair hair and pointed gold-red beard, looked like a Clouet drawing. Half French, he had the quick mind and the rapid speech of a southerner.' This portrait of Ricketts by Shannon was painted two years after Ricketts had founded the Vale Press. It is a record of their friendship, slightly tentative in its character, with Ricketts turning his head away so that he is seen in profile. He liked it for precisely this reason since it shows him 'turning away from the 20th century to think only of the 15th'. It is labelled on the back 'The Man in an Inverness Cloak.'

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 523

Events of 1898back to top

Current affairs

The UK Parliament passes the Irish Local Government Act, which establishes a mixed system of local government in Ireland similar to that in Great Britain, notably creating new, directly elected county councils, and extending the electoral franchise to include all male householders and occupiers.
Charles Pelham Villiers, Britain's longest-serving Member of Parliament, dies. Villiers entered Parliament in 1835 as Liberal MP for Wolverhampton.

Art and science

The French physicists Pierre and Marie Curie discover the strongly radioactive elements polonium and radium, paving the way for cancer therapy and nuclear physics.
H.G. Wells's highly influential science fiction novellaThe War of the World is published, describing an invasion of England by aliens from Mars.

International

The Spanish-American war takes place after Spain fails to meet America's demands to peacefully resolve the Cuban fight for independence. America secures victory after a series of quick naval and military victories in the Philippines and Cuba. Later this year, the Treaty of Paris gives the US ownership of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam, the US also taking control of Cuba, ending the uprising and granting independence.

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