theuglyduckling0267
Head of a Man
Artwork: Head of a Man (?Ira Frederick Aldridge)
Artist: John Simpson 1782–1847
About: exhibited 1827
Medium: Oil on canvas
Support: 733 × 562 × 18 mm
COLLECTION
Tate
ACQUISITION
Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
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Photography credit 1️⃣ZebraPhotography at Tate
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This painting depicts the actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867). Aldridge was born in New York, USA. He joined an African American theatre troupe in the early 1820s. In 1824 he travelled to Britain in the hope his talents would be better appreciated. Aldridge enjoyed huge success in Europe. He was the first African American actor to play the title role in William Shakespeare’s Othello. He was painted several times in the early stages of his career. It is unclear whether he was working as a model or sitting for artists to promote his own public image.
Gallery label, July 2019
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#webgalleryoffineart #webgalleryofvisualart #artloveenjoylife #1zebraphotography
Head of a Man
Artwork: Head of a Man (?Ira Frederick Aldridge)
Artist: John Simpson 1782–1847
About: exhibited 1827
Medium: Oil on canvas
Support: 733 × 562 × 18 mm
COLLECTION
Tate
ACQUISITION
Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
————————————————-
Photography credit 1️⃣ZebraPhotography at Tate
——————————-
This painting depicts the actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867). Aldridge was born in New York, USA. He joined an African American theatre troupe in the early 1820s. In 1824 he travelled to Britain in the hope his talents would be better appreciated. Aldridge enjoyed huge success in Europe. He was the first African American actor to play the title role in William Shakespeare’s Othello. He was painted several times in the early stages of his career. It is unclear whether he was working as a model or sitting for artists to promote his own public image.
Gallery label, July 2019
————————————-
#webgalleryoffineart #webgalleryofvisualart #artloveenjoylife #1zebraphotography