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A Meeting of Connoisseurs

Watercolour
ca. 1790 to 1807 (made)
Artist/Maker
Boyne, John (artist)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

This watercolour is a satire on the contemporary fashion for black models, whose bodies were widely admired by artists. A group of five skinny, short gentlemen have invaded an impoverished artist's studio. One of them has approached a black model who stands at the right, and acknowledges the beauty of his body. Thomas Williamson reproduced this composition in a stipple engraving published in 1807.


Object details

Categories
Black History
Watercolours
Object type
Watercolour
TitleA Meeting of Connoisseurs (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on paper
Paper (Fiber Product)
Watercolour (Paint)
Watercolour Painting (Technique)
Brief description
Watercolour, 'A Meeting of Connoisseurs', John Boyne, ca. 1790-1807.
Physical description
Watercolour showing a group of gentlemen looking at a black male model in an artist's studio.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.3cm
  • Width: 55.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
(Signed.)
Credit line
William Smith Gift
Summary
This watercolour is a satire on the contemporary fashion for black models, whose bodies were widely admired by artists. A group of five skinny, short gentlemen have invaded an impoverished artist's studio. One of them has approached a black model who stands at the right, and acknowledges the beauty of his body. Thomas Williamson reproduced this composition in a stipple engraving published in 1807.
Associated object
25235 (Reproduction)
Bibliographic references
  • Marsh, Jan (ed.), Black Victorians: Black People in British Art 1800-1900, London: Lund Humphries, 2005.
  • Giles Waterfield, ed. The Artist's Studio London: Hogarth Arts, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-9554063-3-1.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
1703-1871

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Record createdMay 22, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O124120/a-meeting-of-connoisseurs-watercolour-boyne-john/
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