Oil paint on canvas
Tate Britain
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on display
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/arthur-devis-2799" aria-label="More by Arthur Devis" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Arthur Devis</a>
Portrait a Man
Presented by Mr and Mrs John Lane 1924
actions: postures and motions
adults
chair
domestic
furnishings
individuals: male
interior - non-specific
interiors
man
objects
people
portraits
sitting
table
<p>Devis was a native of Preston, Lancashire, but by the early 1740s had moved to London. He took a studio in Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, an area much favoured by artists, and by 1750, the most likely date for this portrait, had built up a prosperous business. The identity of this gentleman is not known, although he appears elegantly attired, seated in a bare yet fashionable interior, fingering a letter he has just written. Devis is known to have used studio props for accessories and furniture in his portraits, and to have created imaginary architectural settings, and it could be that this is the case here.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Portrait of a Man
support: 470 × 298 mm
frame: 565 × 396 × 62 mm
Presented by Mr and Mrs John Lane 1924
<div class="text">
<p>Arthur Devis was originally from Preston, Lancashire, but he moved to London where he built a prosperous business. His studio was in Great Queen Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, an area much favoured by artists. The identity of this sitter is not known, although he appears elegantly attired, seated in a bare yet fashionable interior. Recent conservation treatment and research has shown that this is one half of what was once a larger picture, originally showing a woman seated on the other side of the table.</p>
</div>

Online caption
2023-11-29T00:00:00
online-caption
ONLINE_CAPTION
actions: postures and motions adults chair domestic furnishings individuals: male interior - non-specific interiors man objects people portraits sitting table