The Business of Portraiture in Georgian Britain - Angela Cox

Lecturer, art historian and trustee of the Friends of Kenwood House, London, Angela Cox, gives a talk on ‘The Business of Portraiture in Georgian Britain’.
The talk examines how portraits became commercialised in the 18th century. Angela Cox explains how different portraits and types evolved, discusses how studios operated and looks at the importance of the medium of print.
She focusses partly, but not exclusively, on the paintings which hang in the great art collection at Kenwood House, London, painted by some of the 18th century’s greatest artists, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and William Hogarth.
Introduction and fade out music: Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata for violincello and basso continuo in G major WKO 147; 3rd movement, Rondeau. Thomas Gainsborough painted two portraits of his close friend and fellow viola da gamba player, Abel in 1765 and 1777.
Produced by Friends of Kenwood
www.friendsofkenwood.org.uk

[@rosmondkinseymilner3118]

I have onlt just found this very informative talk - a year after the event. Angela Cox really does give the lowdown on the whole business of portraiture in the Georgian period with many detailed facts that underpin the whole creative process at the time. These Friends of Kenwood You Tube videos are a treasure trove

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

An excellent lecture, Ms Cox. Thank you! It's too bad that the audio wasn't better. As a successful portrait painter, I'm particularly glad that the practicalities of painting are talked about here. People talk about the "superiority" of being at the level of a "professional painter" without realising that "professional" means you're painting for money!

[@jw7903]

thank you so much for the lecture! I have learned a lot. I'm particular interested in portrait in 16-17th century and this help me understand more.

[@angieh8228]

Thank you so much Angela Cox for a wonderful talk about Portraiture in Georgian Britain. An absolute gem and I have learnt so much about my favourite century and the way portraits were completed at this time! So lovely you included David Garrick and Sarah Siddons, two of my very favourite 18th century stars!

[@samanthasmith61]

I read that Mary Hamilton and her cousin Louisa 2nd Countess of Mansfield went together to some store to buy discounted prints, I didn't get why they would want to buy prints, after watching this I presumed it was prints of their family and friends?