FDA-P.60-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.60-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
John Bligh, Viscount Clifton, later 4th Earl of Darnley
Description
Half-length portrait of a young man, in a brown coat with brass buttons; face three-quarters to the left; dark grey coat, powdered hair
Comments
John Bligh succeeded his father as the 4th Earl of Darnley in 1781. He had nine appointments to sit to Reynolds, between 13 June and 9 November 1787. Two portraits resulted: this half-length, painted for Eton Head Master Jonathan Davies, and a full-length work, which is now untraced. The full-length version is thought to be the Portrait of a nobleman, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1788. The artist’s ledger suggests that this work cost 100 guineas, while the full-length version was double. Darnley later purchased Old Master paintings from Reynolds, including ‘a Head of Inigo Jones by vandyck’ and ‘a sketch of Rubens of little boys reaping’.
Fourth Earl of Darnley. Born 1767, eldest son of John, third Earl of Darnley. Entered Eton as Viscount Clifton, 1775. Succeeded his father as fourth Earl of Darnley, 1781. 6th Form, 1784. Noted as an art patron. Died 1831.
Fourth Earl of Darnley. Born 1767, eldest son of John, third Earl of Darnley. Entered Eton as Viscount Clifton, 1775. Succeeded his father as fourth Earl of Darnley, 1781. 6th Form, 1784. Noted as an art patron. Died 1831.
Description
Content (person)
Bligh, John, 1767 - 1831 (Sitter)
Dimensions
height (sight size): 695mm
width (sight size): 585mm
width (sight size): 585mm
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Historic carved gilt frame
Production
Person
Reynolds, Joshua (Sir), 1723 - 1792 (Artist)
Date
1787
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Commissioned by the sitter or his family; by whom presented to Dr Davies, the Head Master at Eton College, in 1787
Exhibited: 'New Faces: Unexhibited Portraits from Eton's Boarding Houses', Verey Gallery, Eton College, 27 April to 23 September 2019
Exhibited: 'New Faces: Unexhibited Portraits from Eton's Boarding Houses', Verey Gallery, Eton College, 27 April to 23 September 2019
References
• Cust, L., Eton College Portraits, 1910 ((29), Plate V)
• Graves, A. & Cronin, W. V., A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1909 (p. 229)
• Waterhouse, E.K., Reynolds, 1941 (p. 79)
• Mannings, David, 'Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings', published 2000 (Text volume, p.93-94, catalogue number 195)
• Graves, A. & Cronin, W. V., A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1909 (p. 229)
• Waterhouse, E.K., Reynolds, 1941 (p. 79)
• Mannings, David, 'Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of His Paintings', published 2000 (Text volume, p.93-94, catalogue number 195)
