Nelly O'Brien
Printmaker:
Watson, James
Publisher:
Bowles, John
Publisher:
Watson, James
Painter:
Reynolds, Joshua
(After)
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.
Bequeathed by Charles Brinsley Marlay, 1912
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley
18th Century#
1764
-
1766
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.
Accession number: P.15104-R
Primary reference Number: 240132
Goodwin (Watson): 32.?
Chaloner Smith: 107.?
Hamilton: p.123.?
Mannings (Reynolds): 1354
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Nelly O'Brien" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/240132 Accessed: 2024-12-31 03:03:59
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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/240132
|title=Nelly O'Brien
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-31 03:03:59|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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