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ID #SA1213385
FOR SALE
£600
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Fine Plumbago Portrait by John Taylor, Circa 1770
For sale by Wigs on the Green
for sale €702     $762
£600
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green

Sellingantiques Verified Since May 2020
Browse dealers 84 items
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    Small portraiture of character & historical interest
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Id #SA1213385
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Fine Plumbago Portrait by John Taylor, Circa 1770

18th century
Description

This finely drawn half-length portrait shows a noble gentleman taking a stroll on a cloudy day through a garden landscape. Holding a cane, he wears a collarless coat over a buttoned-up waistcoat, a shirt with lace cuffs and a stock.

Meticulously drawn in plumbago on vellum in John Taylor's distinctive style, the portrait resides in a traditional turned wood frame and dates to around 1770-1780.

The son of a London customs officer, John Taylor studied at St Martin’s Lane Academy before moving to Oxford where he forged a career painting portraits of the undergraduates and academics. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution between 1780 and 1838. Affectionately known as ‘Old Taylor’, he was in his 99th year when he died.

Framed Size: 175 x 148mm

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Georgian Plumbago Portrait Drawing to the Georgian era.

Physical Dimensions
Height
17.5cm (6.89")
Width
15cm (5.91")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1213385
Dealers Internal Reference
7669
Dealers Notes

All prices include UK postage. International shipping will be at cost.

Description
This finely drawn half-length portrait shows a noble gentleman taking a stroll on a cloudy day through a garden landscape.
“
Holding a cane, he wears a collarless coat over a buttoned-up waistcoat, a shirt with lace cuffs and a stock.
Wigs on the Green
fig 1. An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame.
fig 1. Fine Plumbago Portrait by John Taylor, Circa 1770

Meticulously drawn in plumbago on vellum in John Taylor's distinctive style, the portrait resides in a traditional turned wood frame and dates to around 1770-1780.

The son of a London customs officer, John Taylor studied at St Martin’s Lane Academy before moving to Oxford where he forged a career painting portraits of the undergraduates and academics. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution between 1780 and 1838. Affectionately known as ‘Old Taylor’, he was in his 99th year when he died.

Framed Size: 175 x 148mm

Date of Manufacture

Wigs on the Green has dated this Georgian Plumbago Portrait Drawing to the Georgian era.

Height
17.5cm (6.89")
Width
15cm (5.91")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1213385
Dealers Internal Ref
7669
Wigs on the Green
Wigs on the Green
Sellingantiques verified Since May 2020

Small portraiture of character & historical interest

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Wigs on the Green Profile Page

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An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame.
1 / 4
Archive I An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame.

Fine Plumbago Portrait by John Taylor, Circa 1770

Archive II An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame. View II
Archive III An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame. View III
Archive IV An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Wigs on the Green

Wigs on the Green
Telephone 07962 257915
Location
York
Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/wigsonthegreen
Verified Since May 2020
Items For Sale 84
Items Sold 318
Wigs on the Green
Wigs on the Green
Verified Since May 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/wigsonthegreen
Verified
May 2020
For Sale
84
Sold
318
An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame.
Fine Plumbago Portrait by John Taylor, circa 1770
Ref: SA1213385
An 18th-century monochrome plumbago drawing depicting a gentleman in an oval molded wooden frame.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectPortrait Drawing
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialGraphite, Paper, Wood, Glass
  • ColourMonochrome
  • MotifsOval molded frame, Monochrome shading, Georgian attire, Gentleman portrait
  • SizeH 17.5 cm (7 in) x W 15 cm (6 in)

This Georgian portrait drawing depicts a gentleman in a half-length composition holding a cane, wearing a collarless coat over a buttoned waistcoat, a shirt with lace cuffs and a stock, set against a cloudy garden landscape. Meticulously executed in plumbago on vellum in John Taylor's distinctive style, the artwork dates to around 1770 to 1780. The piece sits inside an oval moulded wooden frame with concentric circular turnings, protected by curved glass held within a dark black finish. The outer frame features a small metal hanging ring at the top edge and subtle surface wear to the dark timber. The framed assembly measures 17.5 cm high and 15 cm wide. In a contemporary home, this drawing works well hung on a narrow wall space in a gentleman's library, study or hallway. The monochrome shading and historical attire complement traditional interior schemes.

FAQs

Plumbago portraits are fine monochrome drawings executed in graphite or graphite powder, prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries for capturing detailed facial likenesses and attire before photography was invented.

Artists created these works using fine graphite sticks or powder on vellum, parchment, or paper, which were then set into protective glass-fronted wooden or brass frames.

Authentic pieces feature period-appropriate sitters in 18th-century dress, fine cross-hatched graphite shading under magnification, period frames, and age-consistent oxidation on paper or vellum substrates.

Display the portrait as an accent piece within a contemporary monochrome wall layout, or position it alongside modern artwork in a study or library setting to create visual contrast.

Protect the artwork by hanging it away from direct sunlight and moisture sources, ensuring UV-filtering glass and acid-free mounting materials are utilised to prevent fading and foxing.
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