Nelly O'Brien: P.15104-R

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Nelly O'Brien

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Watson, James
Publisher: Bowles, John
Publisher: Watson, James
Painter: Reynolds, Joshua (After)

Entities

Description

After the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (c.1762/4; Mannings, 1354; Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, GLAHA_43826). A portrait of the celebrated courtesan, Nelly O'Brien (d.1768). Seated, almost full-length to front, resting her left arm on a stone pedestal to the right which is carved with a relief of Danae. Her hands rest in her lap and she displays a ring with a large stone on the third finger of her left hand. She displays a pronounced decolleté in a pale dress with armlets and with pearls around her neck and in her hair and earrings. A darker cloak around her legs. Background with birch trees and flowers.

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Charles Brinsley Marlay, 1912

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley

Dating

18th Century#
1764 - 1766

Note

Mezzotint. Inscription space trimmed off and therefore difficult to ascertain state for certain. Purportedly a touched proof by Reynolds, but which is almost certainly a false proof with later 'touchings', image area cut and laid down and false margin added from the back. (See Notes) Essentially, the impression does not appear fresh enough to be a working proof. Inscribed in faded pen and ink in lower 'margin' to left: 'J Reynolds pinx.t' and right: 'Ja.s Watson fecit' and graphite inscription at centre: 'Touched by Sir Joshua'. Inscribed on the verso in faded pen and ink (same hand as recto): 'a touch'd Proof from the Author'. Faint graphite inscription at lower right: '?inscribed [?....] [?....]'. The 'touched' areas are not as extensive but correspond loosely with those seen in the British Museum's touched proof (1887,0406.34) - the only known working proof of this plate to have been touched by the artist (described in Goodwin) - with highlights at the breast and along the edge of the sleeve on Nelly's left arm, suggesting some knowledge at least of the British Museum proof.

School or Style

British

Techniques used in production

Mezzotint

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.15104-R
Primary reference Number: 240132
Goodwin (Watson): 32.?
Chaloner Smith: 107.?
Hamilton: p.123.?
Mannings (Reynolds): 1354
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