THOMAS WORLIDGE (1700-1766)

 
HEAD STUDIES OF A MAN AND WOMAN
Bears pencil inscription l.r. ‘Worlidge’, bears numbering in pen & ink l.l. ‘44’
Graphite on laid paper
18.5 x 29.4 cm
 
PROVENANCE
(Possibly) Thomas Newport, 4th Earl of Bradport, sold at Langford’s, London, 18.03.1774, lot 44 (‘Thirty-two by Worlidge’);
(Possibly) Sold anonymously at John Gerard’s, London, 19.03.1789, lot 44 (‘Ten Heads (Loose Prints and Drawings)’)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Worlidge was a versatile artist who worked across several media throughout his career. He began as a portrait painter and miniaturist, but turned in middle life to producing head-studies such as the present sheet in black-head pencil, for which he charged two guineas, and found great commercial success in this. Later in life, he focused on producing etchings in the manner of Rembrandt, using a dry-needle with triangular point. He also made direct copies of some of Rembrandt’s prints, among them the artist’s portrait of himself and the hundred-guelder plate. An etching after Rembrandt’s portrait of Sir John Astley was described by Horace Walpole as Worlidge’s ‘best piece.’ One can see the artist’s interest in Rembrandt among his head-studies too, with many of the figures dressed in the attire of the Dutch Golden Age. 
 
 
Worlidge’s last work was his Antique Gems, a series of 182 etchings of antique gems and cameos. The series was published in several parts, some of which seem to have been issued as early as 1754; but Worlidge died before the work was completed. It was finished by his pupils William Grimaldi and George Powle.
 
 
In April 1754 Worlidge had a large collection of his works to be sold by public auction. The printed catalogue bore the title, ‘A Collection of Pictures painted by Mr. Worlidge of Covent Garden, consisting’ ‘of Histories, Heads, Landscapes, and Dead Game, and also some Drawings.’ The highest price fetched was £51 15s. 6d., which was given for a ‘fine head’ after Rembrandt. More than sixteen hundred prints and more than thirteen hundred drawings by Worlidge were sold by Abraham Langford in March 1767 by order of his widow, Elizabeth Wicksteed, who was a talented artist herself.