31 OF 5243 
Robert West; Matthew William Peters
31 of 5243 portraits matching these criteria:
- subject matching 'Double portraits'
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
Share this
Robert West; Matthew William Peters
by Matthew William Peters
charcoal, 7 November 1758
16 in. x 21 1/2 in. (406 mm x 546 mm)
Purchased, 1927
Primary Collection
NPG 2169
Sittersback to top
- Matthew William Peters (1742-1814), Painter and Chaplain to the Prince Regent. Sitter in 1 portrait, Artist or producer associated with 16 portraits. Identify
- Robert West (died 1770), Irish painter, draughtsman and teacher. Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
Artistback to top
- Matthew William Peters (1742-1814), Painter and Chaplain to the Prince Regent. Artist or producer associated with 16 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait. Identify
This portraitback to top
In this ambitious drawing Matthew William Peters has shown himself having his portrait taken by his master, the Irish painter, Robert West, who excelled in chalk and crayon drawings. West set up an influential drawing school in Dublin where Peters trained before coming to London, probably in 1759, to study under Thomas Hudson. Peters made several trips to Italy and France, becoming the pupil of Pompeo Batoni in Rome, but eventually decided to give up his artistic career and entered the Church in 1781. Although he produced a range of portraits and genre scenes, he is best remembered for his mildly erotic pictures of women.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 490
- Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 388
Events of 1758back to top
Current affairs
Comet observed in previous centuries returns exactly at the time predicted by astronomer Edmond Halley and is subsequently known by his name.Art and science
Liverpool-born artist George Stubbs sets up in London as a painter.James Woodforde, an English country parson, begins a detailed diary of everyday life, which is later published as Diary of a Country Parson.
International
Seven Years' War: British General John Forbes captures the strategic French stronghold Fort Duquesne and renames it Pittsburgh after British Secretary of State, William Pitt the Elder. British troops capture Louisbourg, Nova Scotia.Pope Clement XIII succeeds Pope Benedict XIV as the 248th pope.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Dr Claudia Kinmonth MRIA MA(RCA)
20 August 2018, 10:15
This self portrait shows the artist as a teenager (probably age 15 or 16), portraying himself with his drawing master Mr Robert West, in the act of taking his portrait. The Figure Drawing School run by Robert West in the 1740's, was being taken over by The Dublin Society between 1746 and 1750, and by 1750 they had taken it over, and were employing Mr West. The Dublin Society Schools of Drawing then had departments for 'Landscape and Ornament', 'Architectural Drawing' etc., with various tutors, some students studied drawing then went on to become apprenticed into 'Statuary' (sculpture). The Dublin Society (after 1821 The Royal Dublin Society) judged the students and awarded prizes or 'premiums' as encouragement. Many Irish painters of landscape and portraits emerged through their school. They recognised art training as fundamental to good design, and many Irish designers began there too. They also supported students in other ways, ie to travel abroad, on tours to Italy etc., to further their careers. M.W. Peters was sent to Italy for further studies, he is recorded as a student in the school of Figure Drawing in 1755, '56 and '58, won a premium in 1756, and was sent to Italy in 1761. More information may be read about him in the Society's Ms Proceedings, in the RDS archive.