Daniel Gardner

This portraitback to top

Gardner's life is not well-recorded but he was registered as one of the earliest students at the RA which opened its Schools in 1768. At some point after this he attracted the attention of Reynolds who invited him to work in his studio. The self-portrait probably dates from this period since it shows a young man of about 20 and is modelled closely on Reynolds's Rembrandtesque chiaroscuro.

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length to left dramatically lit from the right; dark brown coat, white neckcloth, plain brown background.

Provenanceback to top

Always in the family and by descent to Miss Frances Baker who presented it in memory of her aunt Helen Beatrice Gardner, the artist's great-granddaughter, 1923.

Exhibitionsback to top

'Daniel Gardner 1750-1805', Abbot Hall Gallery, Kendal 1962 (19); 'Cumbrian Characters', Abbot Hall, 1968 (40); 'Daniel Gardner', Kenwood, 1972 (7).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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.

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