John Wolcot

This portraitback to top

Although undocumented and in poor condition, this bold sketch appears to show the middle-aged Wolcot; other Opie portraits showed him with a wig, disguising his dark hair. A version in better condition was with Colonel Cree in 1968. [1]

Footnotesback to top

1) Probably the version listed by J. J. Rogers, John Opie and his Works, 1878, p 180, and A. Earland, Opie and his Circle, 1911, p 324, previously with Frederick Ouvry and F. E. Street.

Physical descriptionback to top

Green eyes, dark brown hair wearing a black coat.

Provenanceback to top

[Mrs Mary Lambe, Bath];¹ Agnew, from whom purchased 1890.

¹ A. Earland, Opie and his Circle, 1911, suggested this provenance but J. J. Rogers, John Opie and his Works, 1878, p 180, described the Lambe portrait as a 'well preserved' bust length 'in a fur cap, sunburnt and swarthy complexion, in black coat, showing very little white cravat', mentioning another version with F. Ouvry.


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.

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