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Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Drawing

c.1775 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Mortimer, John Hamilton (artist)
Place of origin
England (drawn)

John Hamilton Mortimer was a key figure in the development of Romanticism in Britain. Among his most famous works are a series of illustrations of Shakespearean characters which he drew in the 1770s, including this dramatic study for King Lear. Mortimer developed a drawing style of fine lines and dense cross-hatching to create intense, compelling images.

Object details

Categories
Drawings
Shakespeare
Object type
Drawing
Materials and techniques
drawn with the pen
Paper
Pen
Drawing (Image-Making)
Brief description
Mortimer, John Hamilton (1740-1779); Study for Poor Tom in Shakespeare's 'King Lear'; Pen and ink; English School; c.1775.
Physical description
Study for 'Poor Tom' in Shakespeare's King Lear; Drawn with the pen.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.3in
  • Width: 10.8in
Original measurements converted from fractional inches into decimal inches (rounded to one decimal place). Dimensions taken from: DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
Style
English School
Gallery label
John Hamilton Mortimer 1741-1779
Edgar Disguised as 'Poor Tom' from Shakespeare's 'King Lear'
Exhibited at the Society of Artists 1775


Mortimer was a painter and etcher, who excelled in romantic subjects. In Shakespeare's King Lear, prince Edgar disguises himself as the madman 'Poor Tom'. This powerful and bold drawing was made for a series of 12 etchings of characters from Shakespeare



Pen and ink on paper

Bequeathed by Alexander Dyce 1869
Museum no. Dyce. 630
Credit line
Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce
Object history
Mortimer etched an oval print of this design in 1775, the reverse way of the drawing.
Literary referenceWilliam Shakespeare's <i>King Lear</i>, early 17th century.
Summary
John Hamilton Mortimer was a key figure in the development of Romanticism in Britain. Among his most famous works are a series of illustrations of Shakespearean characters which he drew in the 1770s, including this dramatic study for King Lear. Mortimer developed a drawing style of fine lines and dense cross-hatching to create intense, compelling images.
Bibliographic references
  • Owens, Susan, The Art of Drawing British Masters and Methods since 1600, V&A Publishing, London, 2013, p. 68, fig. 47
  • DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
DYCE.630

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1009257/drawing-mortimer-john-hamilton/
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