Portrait of a Gentleman in a red Jacket

English School, late eighteenth Century
Portrait of a Gentleman in a red Jacket

Half-length wearing a red jacket and yellow waistcoat
Pastel
Oval 30.4 by 25.4 cm., 12 by 10 in.

Pastel became an immensely popular medium for portrait drawing during the 18th century, particularly in Britain and France, but also in Italy and Switzerland. The medium is highly malleable, allowing artists to work rapidly and to easily correct errors. It can be manipulated, smudged and blended and can produce both fine, delicate lines and areas of colour at the same time which allowed the artist to capture a wide range of textures, fabrics, lace and other materials beautifully. Not only was pastel embraced by professional portrait artists, who were able to create accurate and detailed portraits quickly, in just a couple of sittings and thus increase output and revenue. But it also became popular amongst the wealthy amateur artists who embraced its versatility and portability.