William Jerdan

This portraitback to top

This is a finished study for the engraving of Jerdan, which was published as no.1 of Maclise's 'Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters', Fraser's Magazine, 1 (June 1830), facing 605. Maclise published over eighty caricature drawings, and they constituted one of the chief attractions of the magazine. Other Maclise drawings of Dunlop and Praed (NPG 3029 and 3030) were presented at the same time as this one, with a similar provenance. The collector's mark in the bottom left-hand corner is that of Sir William Drake. Jerdan also appears in Maclise's engraving of 'The Antiquaries', published Fraser's Magazine, V (1832), between 474-5.

Physical descriptionback to top

Dark eyes and black hair. Dressed in a dark stock, white shirt, light brown waistcoat, dark grey coat, fawn trousers and black shoes. Seated in a red-covered chair. Brown case lower right, multi-coloured carpet, brown table. Floor and background colour grey.

Provenanceback to top

Presumably Maclise Sale, Christie's, 24 June 1870 (lot 66); Sir William Drake; Drake Sale, Christie's, 24 May 1892 (lot 204); M. H. Spielmann, presented by him, 1939.

Exhibitionsback to top

Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1880 (94).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, 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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