John Frederick Harrison Dutton, British fl.1893-1909- Portrait of Thomas Hardy OM (1840-1928), seated half-length, turned to the right; oil on canvas, signed and dated 'J. F. HARRISON DUTTON / 1890.' (lower right), bears inscribed label attached to...

John Frederick Harrison Dutton,

British fl.1893-1909-

Portrait of Thomas Hardy OM (1840-1928), seated half-length, turned to the right;

oil on canvas, signed and dated 'J. F. HARRISON DUTTON / 1890.' (lower right), bears inscribed label attached to the reverse of the frame, bears oval brass manufacturer's label 'James Lanham Artist's Colourman St Ives Cornwall' attached to the reverse of the frame, 76 x 63.5 cm.

Note: Dutton is largely celebrated for his depictions of society figures in 19th-century Britain. His sitter here, however, Thomas Hardy, was one of the most significant literary forces of the day, with his influence very much present in the cultural landscape of the nation. His novels including ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ and ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ are undeniable classics which have shaped the development of British literature.

In the present work, Dutton has evoked the characteristic solemnity of the author (who was famously attracted to serious subjects) most noticeably through his muted colour palette. Dutton also positions Hardy to the side, facing away from the viewer, and thereby emphasising his authority and status. Hardy has been the sitter for a number of portraits, including those by William Strang, Walter William Ouless, and Reginald Grenville Eves. Perhaps most notably, he is the subject of a portrait by Augustus John, held in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Held in a reverse profile glazed gilded composition frame. Please refer to department for condition report