Francis William, the Scholar of Jamaica

Artwork: Francis William, the Scholar of Jamaica

Artist: Unknown

Created: c. 1745

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 66 x 50.1 cm (canvas

Location: Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK

Photography by @1001before_you_die_collection (L-C E)

————————————————-

‘’Francis Williams was a Jamaican poet and a scholar. The painter of his portrait, who probably worked in Jamaica, has copied the style and format of European portraits. He or she must have seen examples of such pictures, or, more likely, prints reproducing them. There were conventions in representing scholarly men, and the artist has used several of them here. Williams is shown as a scholar in his book-lined study, with a globe of the world, and a celestial globe on the table. Dividers and other instruments are also strewn on the table. All this indicates that he has studied astronomy, mathematics and geography. A landscape, presumably of Spanish Town, Jamaica, is visible through the window, showing that Williams was resident there. It has been suggested that this portrait is a caricature of Williams because the painter has shown him with a large head and legs so thin that his stockings are wrinkled. However, Williams may have wanted to be shown in this manner to emphasise his intellectual rather than physical stature.’’ (Source V&A)

————————————————-

#unknown #painting #victoriaandalbertmuseum #1zebraphotography #webgalleryofvisualart