Inglefield, Thomas | The industrious master

Inglefield, Thomas

The Portrait of Thomas Inglefield… N.p.: Published for T. Inglefield, 1787 

Etching (266 x 183 mm). Engraved full-length portrait of Inglefield sketching at a desk, with a pencil held between cheek and right arm "drawn, etched, and given by F. Grose & S. Ireland," text in lower margin; minor soiling and spotting, neat modern annotation to verso in blue ballpoint. Hinged to card, matted.

"He has by industry acquired the Arts of Writing and Drawing" (etching text)

According to Jay, "born on December 18, 1769, in Hook, Hampshire, without hands or legs, Inglefield was one of many children born in the eighteenth century with disabilities that were blamed on a fright suffered by the mother during pregnancy. This, along with another etching of Inglefield also published and distributed by Samuel Ireland, speaks to Inglefield’s desire to fashion himself as an industrious writing and drawing master" (exhibition note). 

REFERENCE:

LP&FW 63

PROVENANCE:

Exhibited: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Wordplay: Matthias Buchinger’s Drawings from the Collection of Ricky Jay," 8 January - 11 April 2016