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Description: | Oil on canvas. This work was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1880. It was painted to mark the end of George Graham’s term as Registrar General the previous year and was presented to the sitter on his retirement. When ‘The Graphic’ reviewed the 1880 Royal Academy exhibition particular attention was paid to this work and another portrait by Holl, depicting gas industrialist and lawyer Simon Adams Beck (1803-1883). The two portraits were praised for displaying: ‘…a rare power, not only of seizing the salient traits of his sitters, but of realising their essential character as far as it is impressed on their outward features.’ However, the reviewer went on to criticise Holl’s portraits as ‘unnecessarily cold in tone; …we feel the want of living colour in the flesh tints.’ | Subjects: | ring sideburns paper 19th century costume male portrait Registrar General quill desk armchair George Graham basket suit book ink pot/ink stand man major | Temporal: | 1880 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | Frank Holl | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
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