Portrait of a man known as John Churchill
Miniature
1712 (drawn)
1712 (drawn)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In the second half of the 17th century in England there was a fashion for small black and white portraits drawn on vellum (fine animal skin). This medium is more durable than paper. Although these portraits were called 'plumbagos', meaning black lead, they were usually drawn in graphite and sometimes in ink. This portrait is done in graphite.
'Plumbagos' developed in the Netherlands in the late 16th century within the print trade. They developed from the printmakers' original drawings on paper, from which a print would have been engraved. 'Plumbagos' were introduced into England when the monarchy was restored in 1660, by printmakers who returned home from exile abroad. As the taste for 'plumbagos' became established, artists who were not printmakers also began to produce them. A few artists continued the art of the 'plumbago' into the early 18th century. We know almost nothing about Thomas Forster, but he was clearly a talented 'plumbago' artist. His portraits date from between 1690 and 1713.
'Plumbagos' developed in the Netherlands in the late 16th century within the print trade. They developed from the printmakers' original drawings on paper, from which a print would have been engraved. 'Plumbagos' were introduced into England when the monarchy was restored in 1660, by printmakers who returned home from exile abroad. As the taste for 'plumbagos' became established, artists who were not printmakers also began to produce them. A few artists continued the art of the 'plumbago' into the early 18th century. We know almost nothing about Thomas Forster, but he was clearly a talented 'plumbago' artist. His portraits date from between 1690 and 1713.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Portrait of a man known as John Churchill (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Graphite on vellum |
Brief description | Portrait miniature of a man known as John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, by Thomas Forster, British, 1712 |
Physical description | Plumbago portrait miniature of a man known as John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough |
Dimensions |
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Subject depicted | |
Summary | In the second half of the 17th century in England there was a fashion for small black and white portraits drawn on vellum (fine animal skin). This medium is more durable than paper. Although these portraits were called 'plumbagos', meaning black lead, they were usually drawn in graphite and sometimes in ink. This portrait is done in graphite. 'Plumbagos' developed in the Netherlands in the late 16th century within the print trade. They developed from the printmakers' original drawings on paper, from which a print would have been engraved. 'Plumbagos' were introduced into England when the monarchy was restored in 1660, by printmakers who returned home from exile abroad. As the taste for 'plumbagos' became established, artists who were not printmakers also began to produce them. A few artists continued the art of the 'plumbago' into the early 18th century. We know almost nothing about Thomas Forster, but he was clearly a talented 'plumbago' artist. His portraits date from between 1690 and 1713. |
Bibliographic reference | Summary Catalogue of Miniatures in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Emmett Microform, 1981 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 1157-1901 |
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Record created | July 11, 2003 |
Record URL |
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