Self-portrait, aged 89
Francis Nicholson (Pickering 1753 – London 1844)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1842
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
758 x 623 mm (29.85 x 24.53 in)
Order this imageCollection
Killerton, Devon
NT 922305
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Self-portrait, aged 89 by Francis Nicholson (Pickering 1753 – London 1844), 1842. A half-length portrait of the artist as an elderly man, facing, gazing at spectator, head inclined slightly to the right. With grey hair, wearing a dark coat and white stock, he holds his palette and some brushes in his left hand. A canvas is seen on an easel on the far right.
Provenance
Included on lists of pictures at Killerton at the time of Sir Charles Acland's death in 1919 and Sir Francis's death in 1939: "Francis Nicholson by himself at age of 89" Nicholson was the employed by the Acland's in the early 1800's as Drawing Master to the family.
Marks and inscriptions
Front, in bottom left hand corner : Francis Nicholson / Painted myself Bottom right hand corner: Painter of Landscape / In his 90th year 1843
Makers and roles
Francis Nicholson (Pickering 1753 – London 1844), artist
References
Long, Basil, 1924; Walker's Quarterly, January 1924 , Francis Nicholson, no.14, p.210, mentions this painting and says photo in V&A Catalogue of the Third and Concluding Special Exhibition of National Portraits, commencing with the fourth year of the reign of George the Third and ending with the year MDCCCLXVII. South Kensington Museum. April 13, 1868., No.563 Killerton House, Devon, 2000 [The National Trust] 2000, p.19: "THE STAIRCASE PICTURES AT FOOT OF STAIRS An unusually large painting in watercolour of an unidentified, possibly Italian, landscape by Francis Nicholson (1753-1844), whose self-portrait hangs on the opposite wall. Nicholson, a founder member of the Society of Painters in Water-colours, taught watercolour painting to Henrietta, mother of the 10th Baronet. Henrietta's letters record her working partnership with the artist over many years: 'Mr Nicholson and I are very busy for the exhibition and at this minute a connoisseur of Pictures and friend of Mr Trevelyan is inspecting all my drawings, and has offered me a very find Poussin to copy.' She also considered herself to be Nicholson's ffriend, sending strict instructions to her son when a visit to Killerton was planned: 'Mr Nicholson must not be kept up after 10 - he must only drink White Wine eat plain roast & boiled Meat, Poultry or Game, no salt Meat whatever...If he does not return as well as I send him I shall blame you.'