Unidentified British Artist (Formerly Attributed to William Etty R.A.) and William Etty RA, Study of a seated, partially draped male figure

Study of a seated, partially draped male figure, c. 1850?

Unidentified British Artist (Formerly Attributed to William Etty R.A.) and Formerly attributed to William Etty RA (1787 - 1849)

RA Collection: Art

An oil study of a seated, partially draped male figure. The model wears a headdress or hat and drapery wrapped around his waist. These are almost identical to those worn by the model identified as John Mongo 'The Punka-walla' in a study by Thomas Faed https:// www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/ 24067 in the National Galleries of Scotland. Faed made his drawing at the Trustees' Academy in Edinbugh where Mongo modelled in the 1840s. This work is likely to be by William Quiller Orchardson (see below) who also attended the Trustees' Academy from 1847. Mongo is thought to have been of Indian or Pakistani heritage.

This drawing was previously considered to be the work of William Etty. However, it appears that this group of oil studies were mistaken for Etty's work at the Academy at an early date but that they probably came into the collection in 1919 with works by and owned by the Scottish painter William Quiller Orchardson. Although they do not particularly resemble Orchardson's later work there are similarities with drawings and paintings he produced as a student.

These life studies were formerly attributed to William Etty. However, it has been found that one of the sheets is watermarked 1850, a year after the artist's death, and although the studies resemble Etty's work in terms of the colouring, poses and general effect, they also differ from it in certain details. In particular, these studies are on paper whereas Etty preferred to use millboard. Also, the draughtsmanship displays a greater interest in anatomical correctness than would usually be evident in Etty's work.

The identity of the artist who painted these studies has not been discoverd but they are almost certainly the work of a British painter active during in the mid-19th century. The sheets were previously kept in a portfolio marked "Orchardson" and it is possible that they are by or connected with the Scottish painter William Quiller Orchardson. A large group of Orchardson's paintings, drawings and belongings were presented to the Royal Academy in 1916 by his widow, Lady Orchardson. It is possible that these studies were separated from the rest of the group at an early stage and mistaken for Etty's 'Academy studies'.

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Object details

Title
Study of a seated, partially draped male figure
Artist/designer
Date
c. 1850?
Object type
Drawing
Medium
Oil over chalk on wove paper
Dimensions

547 mm x 393 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
05/117
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