- 126
Charles Martin c. 1812-1906
Description
- Charles Martin
- Portrait of Joseph Mallord William Turner, R.A. (1775-1851)
- signed verso: Sketch'd from Life 1844 and Kindly Signed by Mr W.T.C. Martin/30 Allsopp Terrace, and inscribed possibly by Turner l.r.: JMW Turner. RA./1844
- watercolour over pencil heightened with bodycolour, on oatmeal paper
- 32.5 by 23.5 cm.; 12 3/4 by 9 1/4 in.
Provenance
Anonymous sale in these Rooms, 15 March 1990, lot 58;
George Francis Child Villiers , 9th Earl of Jersey;
by descent
Catalogue Note
Charles Martin drew Turner in this pose on several occasions. The earliest portrait is a pencil drawing dated 1844 (National Portrait Gallery), from which a lithograph and a woodcut were produced. This was then reproduced as an illustration in the Illustrated London News, on the 10th May 1845.
The present work is a watercolour version signed by Turner. Further versions, some of which bear facsimiles of Turner's signature, include one in the National Portrait Gallery, a half length watercolour in a Private Collection, and a further version in watercolour, last recorded in 1902 when offered to the National Portrait Gallery. A later portrait of Turner dated 1849, was sold in these Rooms, on the 21st November 1985, lot 73 for £11,000.