Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson

Inscriptionback to top

Signed with initials lower centre: ‘Hy F’.

This portraitback to top

This caricature was drawn for and published in Harry Furniss’s Garrick Gallery Caricatures (plate 35), produced by the artist for his own amusement. Both Forbes-Robertson and Furniss were members of the Garrick Club, the former since 1888. At the date of execution during 1915–16, Forbes-Robertson was in his early sixties, which does not fully accord with the portrayal here: by depicting sagging features and grey hair, it lends him a more elderly appearance than is seen in most other late portraits, which tend to show an upright figure with relatively unlined face. Overall, although the caricature does not immediately resemble other likenesses of the sitter, its vigorous pen strokes convey his age and formal dress style, with tail-coat, exaggerated stiff collar and dangling spectacles, while the extended little finger indicates his fastidious manner.

See NPG collection 4095(1–11). For other drawings and further information relating to Furniss’s career as an artist, see NPG collection 3337–3535, 3554–3620.

Jan Marsh

Footnotesback to top

Physical descriptionback to top

Whole-length, profile to left, wearing high collar and tail coat, standing with left arm resting on plinth, holding pince-nez dangling.

Provenanceback to top

Purchased 1959

Reproductionsback to top

Furniss [1915–16], pl.35.

View all known portraits for Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson

View all known portraits for Harry Furniss