William Powell Frith (1819-1909)

'A Man in Armour'

Details

William Powell Frith (1819-1909)
'A Man in Armour'
signed and inscribed 'W.P. Frith fecit' (lower right), with inscription 'Man in Armour by W.P. Frith R.A/I give this picture to the National Gallery, London/Sophia Sanville/8th July 1896' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
36 x 28in. (91.4 x 71.2cm.)

Provenance

Given by the artist to Sophia Sanville.
Mrs Isobel Thomas, thence by decent.

Literature

William Powell Frith, 'Autobiography & Reminiscences', 1888, vol II, p.12.

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, 1869, no.253.

Lot Essay

In his autobiography the artist was to comment on this portrait as follows; 'My other contribution (to the Royal Academy) was a portrait of a friend. I changed his broadcloth into steel and called him 'A Man in Armour'. The picture proved so strong a likeness that my friend was stopped in the street, questioned in omnibuses, and received other proofs of his identity with the picture which was, and is, one of my best'.

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