Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham and 9th Baron Howard
Original title: Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham and 9th Baron Howard
kurzbeschreibung
Francesco Bartolozzi produced this profile portrait of Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham, sometime between 1764 and 1802. The drawing is in black and red chalk, with a varnish applied over the surface, and measures 14.0 x 11.4 cm. An oval framing brings the sitter's face to the fore.
Description
A man's head in profile, turned to the left, occupies the sheet. His short, wavy hair falls slightly back, and his expression remains calm and thoughtful. The outlines are drawn sharply and in detail, while the background stays bare. The paper shows a slight browning along with signs of use—folds and scratches—and the varnish makes the tones appear smoother and clearer.
Context
The sheet comes from Francesco Bartolozzi, an Italian engraver and draughtsman who worked in London from 1764 and established himself there among the leading reproductive printmakers of his day. The sitter, Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham, was a British nobleman and officer; the portrait was likely made in his later years. Black and red chalk were common in 18th-century portraiture because they allowed skin tones and details to be worked out naturally.
Impact
The oval frame draws the eye straight to the face and creates a concentrated, intimate mood. Precise lines and the restrained varnish give the portrait a quiet, dignified presence.
Technique
Black and red chalk on paper allowed light and shadow to be finely graded. A varnish was then applied to the sheet, protecting the surface and softening the contrasts. The small format points to careful work focused on detail.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)