WORLIDGE Thomas

in preparation

THOMAS WORLIDGE

(Peterborough/Cambridgeshire or Northamptonshire 1700 - 22.9/23.9.1766 Hammersmith/London)

Portrait Sir James Thornhill about 1730

Bildnis Sir James Thornhill um 1730

Contrefait Sir James Thornhill vers 1730

Ritratto Sir James Thornhill c.1730

1754

Acquaforte.Água-forte.Aguafuerte.Akwaforta.Eau-forte.Etching.Etsen.Radierung

and additional Drypoint

Signed in the plate

150x120 mm

[347x267/199x157/195x155]

Dack 217

Heller-Andresen 3

Nagler 1

Sir James Thornhill was probably the most eminent gentleman painter in England prior to the rise of Sir Joshua Reynolds.

A native of Dorset, born in 1676, he became the only significant decorative painter in the Grand Baroque tradition to emerge in this country.

He was responsible for painting the interior of the dome of St.Paul's cathedral with depictions of the saint's life on eight massive panels,

he decorated Hampton Court Palace, and he spent ovver 19 years decorating the immense Painted Hall, the Lower Hall, and the Vestibule in Greenwich Hospital.

He was knighted by King George I and became a member of Parliament and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Few other artists have ever attained such a position of power within the highest ranks of society in England.

The famous painter William Hogarth became Thornhill's son-in-law, upon marriage to Sir James's daughter in 1729.

At time Hogarth had only just begun to make his name and were it not for the power of his father-in-law ,

his rise to fame and fortune might not have taken so rapid a course.Sir James concentrated upon depicting historical and allegorical scenes,

although he also painted some portraits and landscapes.He died in 1734.

This portrait is thought to have been etched in about 1730/32, whilst Worlidge was living in Bath.

At this time Sir James Thornhill would have been in his mid-fifties.

During his time in Bath, Worlidge painted many miniatures and also etched portraits of the local residents

and the notable or unusual visitors to Bath and the nearby city of Bristol

cf. SAUR BBI, Thieme-Becker etc.

cf. Katalog Röver In Rembrandts Manier.Kunsthalle Bremen.Bremen 1986/87 Illustration

Collection HELM&HELM Lindach

Polygraphicum10Worlidge336REMBRANDT&CO.2006.jpg

SEE

meanwhile

http://sites.google.com/site/rembrandtcatalogue2006