Self-portrait in Masquerade-dress
Richard Cosway RA (Tiverton, Devon 1742 - London 1821)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1770
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1295 x 1016 mm (51 x 40 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609064
Caption
The artist depicts himself aged about 30 in around 1770. His stance reflects that in aristocratic portraiture, while the mask on the table suggests that he is about to attend a masquerade ball. In his right hand he holds a portfolio – presumably of his own work. He has shown himself in ‘Van Dyck’ dress, after the great portrait artist of the century before, which popular amongst artists, connoisseurs and aristocrats in the mid-eighteenth century. He is evidently imitating Hudson’s portraits of sitters in ‘Van Dyck’ masquerade dress. Cosway was notoriously vain, an attitude which is all too apparent in this portrait. By the 1780s Cosway had become the leading adviser and confidant to the Prince of Wales. In 1785 the Prince made him his principal portrait painter, a post which he held for over twenty years.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Self-portrait in Masquerade-dress by Richard Cosway RA (Tiverton, Devon 1742 - London 1821), circa 1770. A three-quarter-length, in profile to left, head facing. Wearing Van Dyck masquerade dress of grey silk embroidered with gold and blue cloak. His left hand on his hip, to the right is a mask on a console table.
Provenance
Believed to be 3rd Lord Berwick collection; possibly 1913 Inventory p.65; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
NMGM Walker Art Gallery Face to Face 94-95 Cat.20, Richard Cosway, portrait of the Artist and his wife (paper label on reverse)
Makers and roles
Richard Cosway RA (Tiverton, Devon 1742 - London 1821), artist
References
Garnett 2010: Oliver Garnett, "Men in Lace: The Fashionable Swagger - the 18th century nostalgia for ornate 'Vandyke' dress", National Trust Arts/Buildings/Collections Bulletin, Summer Issue, July 2010, pp.1-2