Oil paint on mahogany
Tate Britain
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on display
General Collection
Robert Vernon
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/thomas-sword-good-213" aria-label="More by Thomas Sword Good" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Thomas Sword Good</a>
A Man Reading
Presented by Robert Vernon 1847
actions: postures and motions
adults
basket
chair
domestic
furnishings
interior - non-specific
interiors
legs crossed
leisure and pastimes
man
newspaper - non-specific
objects
people
reading
reading, writing, printed matter
recreational activities
sitting
table
vessels and containers
<p>In this painting, reading the news is presented as a solitary rather than social activity – the man is wholly absorbed in his paper. This subject reflects the wide readership of the news during this period. Public interest in current affairs grew in the early 19th century (particularly during the Napoleonic Wars), driving the demand for newspapers. Thomas Sword Good specialised in these small, interior scenes. He was especially interested in lighting effects. However, one critic praised this painting as ‘a pleasing departure from his usual and rather mannered style’.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2023</em></p>
painting oil paint mahogany
26 September 2022
26 September 2022
2022-09-26
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2022-09-26
Gallery 10
Collection based display
A Man Reading
support: 241 × 190 mm
Presented by <a href="/search?gid=999999978" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Robert Vernon</a> 1847
<div class="text">
<p>In this painting, reading the news is presented as a solitary rather than social activity – the man is wholly absorbed in his paper. Like Newsmongers shown nearby, this subject reflects the wide readership of the news during this period. Public interest in current affairs grew in the early 19th century (particularly during the Napoleonic Wars), driving the demand for newspapers. Thomas Sword Good specialised in these small, interior scenes. He was especially interested in lighting effects. However, one critic praised this painting as ‘a pleasing departure from his usual and rather mannered style’.</p>
</div>

Online caption
2023-11-29T00:00:00
online-caption
ONLINE_CAPTION
actions: postures and motions adults basket chair domestic furnishings interior - non-specific interiors legs crossed leisure and pastimes man newspaper - non-specific objects people reading reading, writing, printed matter recreational activities sitting table vessels and containers