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G0293
Paintings: G0293
Title
John Henderson
Technique
Oil on canvas
Subject
Artist
Gainsborough, Thomas RA [ Copy after ]
Dimensions
Height: 77.5cm
Width: 63cm
height (frame): 96cm
width (frame): 83cm
Width: 63cm
height (frame): 96cm
width (frame): 83cm
Inscription/signature
"HAMLET / To be or not to be" (black paint, on book b. r.)
Provenance
Charles Mathews
Other number
Mathews 40 (artist unknown)
RW/CKA 24
RW/CKA 24
Exhibition history
1833 London, Queen's Bazaar, Oxford Street, "Mr Mathews's Gallery of Theatrical Portraits" (40)
Related works
Original, painted for John Ireland 1772/3 but lost. Bust engraved by J. Jones as a plate to the “European Magazine” pub. J. Sewell 1786. There are several versions, those of the bust only perhaps copied from the engraving (see No. 294). A version sold at Christie's 8 July 1938 (119) has the actor resting his left wrist on the edge of the open book.
Literature
Waterhouse "Gainsborough" (1958) p. 73 (No. 361)
Henderson holds his book open at Hamlet's famous soliloquy in Act III, scene 1. He wears an olive green coat over a cream waistcoat.
Henderson’s portrayal of Hamlet, a role he first acted in London at the Haymarket on 26 June 1777, was not particularly impressive, but in other roles, such as Iago, he earned plaudits as “a truly great actor”.
Henderson’s portrayal of Hamlet, a role he first acted in London at the Haymarket on 26 June 1777, was not particularly impressive, but in other roles, such as Iago, he earned plaudits as “a truly great actor”.
