Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
manner of <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-joshua-reynolds-444" aria-label="More by Sir Joshua Reynolds" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Joshua Reynolds</a>
Portrait a Man probably Francis Barber
Bequeathed by Mrs Mary Venetia James 1948
actions: postures and motions
adults
Barber, Francis
black
body
domestic
ethnicity
head / face
individuals: male
looking up
man
named individuals
people
portraits
servant
work and occupations
<p>This portrait is now thought to be Francis Barber, born Quashey (c.1742-1801). Barber was born into slavery in Jamaica, on a sugarcane plantation belonging to the British Bathurst family. He was brought to England aged 15, by his enslaver Colonel Richard Bathurst. In 1755, when Bathurst died, Barber was freed. He later went to work for English writer Samuel Johnson. This picture is one of many student copies of a painting by Joshua Reynolds. Previous titles, including <span>A Young Black</span>, may suggest that as a Black man, Barber was being treated as an artistic subject, rather than as an individual.</p><p><em>Gallery label, March 2022</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
5 December 2008 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
5 December 2008 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
2008-12-05
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2008-12-05
Portraiture 1660-1800
Collection based display
21 September 2019 – 23 November 2019
2019-11-23
21 September 2019 – 23 November 2019
2019-11-23
2019-09-21
Atkinson Art Gallery (Southport, UK)
2019-09-21
Black Presence
Loan-out
24 June 2023 – 29 October 2023
2023-10-29
24 June 2023 – 29 October 2023
2023-10-29
2023-06-24
The Box (Plymouth, UK)
2023-06-24
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Loan-out
Portrait of a Man, probably Francis Barber
support: 450 × 360 × 21 mm
frame: 615 × 530 × 120 mm
Bequeathed by Mrs Mary Venetia James 1948
<div class="text">
<p>This portrait is now thought to be Francis Barber, born Quashey (c.1742-1801). Barber was born into slavery in Jamaica, on a sugarcane plantation belonging to the British Bathurst family. He was brought to England aged 15, by his enslaver Colonel Richard Bathurst. In 1755, when Bathurst died, Barber was freed. He later went to work for English writer Samuel Johnson. This picture is one of many student copies of a painting by Joshua Reynolds. Previous titles, including <i>A Young Black</i>, may suggest that as a Black man, Barber was being treated as an artistic subject, rather than as an individual.</p>
</div>

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2022-03-25T00:00:00
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actions: postures and motions adults Barber, Francis black body domestic ethnicity head / face individuals: male looking up man named individuals people portraits servant work and occupations