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Lot 213
AFTER THOMAS HUDSON (BRITISH, 1701-1779)
Closed20 November 2013
Price Realised
GBP 3,375
More Information
Specialist note
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) was a German-born composer, the second son of Georg Händel (1622-1697), surgeon, and his second wife, Dorothea Elisabeth (1651-1730). After training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy, Handel settled in London. One of the greatest composers of all time, many of Handel's works, including Water Music (1717), Zadok the Priest (1727) and Messiah (1742) remain popular today.
The present miniature is after a full-scale painting of Handel by Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), painted in 1756 and now in the National Portrait Gallery (inv. no. 3970). It depicts Handel, old and blind, the score of Messiah next to him on a table. It was painted for Handel's friend, Charles Jennens, who selected the words for Messiah. Hudson gained an excellent reputation as a portrait painter. He was friends with other artists including William Hogarth and Allan Ramsey, and was teacher to Joshua Reynolds and Joseph Wright of Derby. Another version of the present miniature, also set in a gold ring, was sold Sotheby's, Geneva, 21 November 1991, lot 12, by descent from the Broadwood family.
The present miniature is after a full-scale painting of Handel by Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), painted in 1756 and now in the National Portrait Gallery (inv. no. 3970). It depicts Handel, old and blind, the score of Messiah next to him on a table. It was painted for Handel's friend, Charles Jennens, who selected the words for Messiah. Hudson gained an excellent reputation as a portrait painter. He was friends with other artists including William Hogarth and Allan Ramsey, and was teacher to Joshua Reynolds and Joseph Wright of Derby. Another version of the present miniature, also set in a gold ring, was sold Sotheby's, Geneva, 21 November 1991, lot 12, by descent from the Broadwood family.