Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue
John Wilkinson (1728-1808), Ironmaster
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
c.1776
Painting by Thomas Gainsborough, whole length, wearing a bright green silk waistcoat, seated in a landscape. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin (1638; E. K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, 1958, no.722). Although called 'Squire Wilkinson' in 1914, the features are a little difficult to reconcile with Abbott's later portrait; Dickinson (H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, p 55) commented that it was 'too idealized' and failed to convey Wilkinson's forceful character. Copy by Miss Brackenbury 1903 sold Christie’s, 20 June 1996, lot 51.
1785
Miniature by John Smart (listed by D. Foskett, John Smart, 1964, p 76).
1787-93
Copper tokens bearing a medallion portrait, dated between 1787 and 1793 (H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, pp 29-30; Country Life, CX, 1951, p 1371); an example in the NPG reference collection D7054 dated 1793; Wilkinson issued tokens in both silver and copper ‘which had a wide currency in Staffordshire and Shropshire’ (DNB).
c.1795?
Painting by L. F. Abbott, see NPG 3785.
after 1808
Monument, a cast-iron obelisk bearing a bust-length medallion portrait. Lindale churchyard, Lancashire, transferred from Castlehead (illus. N. Penny, English Church Monuments, 1977, p 170). Wilkinson had stipulated he should be buried in a cast-iron coffin beneath an iron monument of twenty tons weight.
Undated
Two untraced portraits listed by H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, p.55: a half length by ‘Harper’, engraved ‘Rejlander’ 1849 when in the collection of William Baldwin of Bilston (probably the portrait later belonging to Edward Jones of Wellington and formerly of Brymbo); a painting at Pennybridge Hall of John and Isaac Wilkinson in their foundry at Backbarrow.
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.
Painting by Thomas Gainsborough, whole length, wearing a bright green silk waistcoat, seated in a landscape. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin (1638; E. K. Waterhouse, Gainsborough, 1958, no.722). Although called 'Squire Wilkinson' in 1914, the features are a little difficult to reconcile with Abbott's later portrait; Dickinson (H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, p 55) commented that it was 'too idealized' and failed to convey Wilkinson's forceful character. Copy by Miss Brackenbury 1903 sold Christie’s, 20 June 1996, lot 51.
1785
Miniature by John Smart (listed by D. Foskett, John Smart, 1964, p 76).
1787-93
Copper tokens bearing a medallion portrait, dated between 1787 and 1793 (H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, pp 29-30; Country Life, CX, 1951, p 1371); an example in the NPG reference collection D7054 dated 1793; Wilkinson issued tokens in both silver and copper ‘which had a wide currency in Staffordshire and Shropshire’ (DNB).
c.1795?
Painting by L. F. Abbott, see NPG 3785.
after 1808
Monument, a cast-iron obelisk bearing a bust-length medallion portrait. Lindale churchyard, Lancashire, transferred from Castlehead (illus. N. Penny, English Church Monuments, 1977, p 170). Wilkinson had stipulated he should be buried in a cast-iron coffin beneath an iron monument of twenty tons weight.
Undated
Two untraced portraits listed by H. W. Dickinson, John Wilkinson, 1914, p.55: a half length by ‘Harper’, engraved ‘Rejlander’ 1849 when in the collection of William Baldwin of Bilston (probably the portrait later belonging to Edward Jones of Wellington and formerly of Brymbo); a painting at Pennybridge Hall of John and Isaac Wilkinson in their foundry at Backbarrow.
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.