Creator
Sylvester Harding
Title
Roger Payne in His Studio
Coverage
London
Publisher
Harding
Date
1800
Description
This etched portrait was commissioned by the London bookseller Thomas Payne, who was not related to Roger but had employed him for years and was responsible for his burial in 1797. Though traditionally described as working in poverty, Roger Payne’s many bindings are testimonies to his taste and skill, suggesting that this “starving artist” portrayal is a romantic fantasy. The watercolor original does not include the poverty-stricken elements in the etching.
Source
Gift of William Loring Andrews, ca. 1890.
Format
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53312840714_963884a44e_z.jpg