George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, William, 2nd Viscount Courtenay, de jure 8th Earl of Devon, and George William Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry
Original title: George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, William, 2nd Viscount Courtenay, de jure 8th Earl of Devon, and George William Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry
kurzbeschreibung
Three male heads in black and red chalk on light paper, each set within an oval and loosely scattered across the sheet. Francesco Bartolozzi drew this study between 1779 and 1802, bringing together the aristocrats named in the title.
Description
On the left, a head tilts slightly upward; the middle one looks down; the right turns to the left. Delicate strokes and hatching shape faces and hair, while the paper's pale brown remains as empty ground. The three figures nearly fill their ovals without engaging one another.
Context
Bartolozzi, born in Italy, worked in London and was known mainly as a reproductive engraver. This sheet likely served as a preparatory study for a print or publication featuring portraits of the named aristocrats. The span 1779 to 1802 covers his English years, during which he also worked for the Royal Academy.
Impact
Your eye moves from one head to the next, paused by the shifting directions of gaze that create a quiet, reflective mood. The fine handling of the chalk gives the sheet a restrained elegance suited to the sitters' social rank.
Technique
Black and red chalk on light paper allow subtle modeling of skin and hair. A varnish coats the sheet, protecting the paper and fixing the chalk.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)