From Pencil to Chisel: Sir Francis Chantrey’s Portrait Drawings

The most successful portrait sculptor in the early-nineteenth century, Chantrey’s sitters included three monarchs and leading scientists and architects. This display focuses on a selection of Chantrey’s drawings made using a ‘camera lucida’, a light projecting device used for improved accuracy in delineating features and proportions. These simple ‘mug shot’ (full face and profile) drawings, apparently free from artistry and flattery, are remarkable for their immediacy.