Unknown man, formerly known as John Russell

Inscriptionback to top

The original sheet inscribed verso in pencil: [Romfret?] RA/Wilkins.

This portraitback to top

Previously called John Russell, the pastellist, through a misreading of the inscription (the old backing board bore a modern pencil inscription: Russell RA/Wilkins). Probably a preparatory study for an engraving.

Provenanceback to top

Mrs M. F. Warner; her sale Sotheby’s, 2 June 1943, lot 11 (part lot), bought Arthur Spencer (of the Siddons Gallery, London), from whom purchased 1943.<sup>1

1</sup> One of eight drawings, see Chambers NPG 3159.


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.

View all known portraits for John Russell