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Lot Essay
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The eminent London dental surgeon Alexander Nasmyth (1789-1848) was a friend of John Linnell and dentist to his family. Linnell painted portraits in oil of Nasmyth and his wife in 1833-34 and executed the present drawing in the summer of 1836. An oil on panel of Mrs Nasmyth was begun on 14 November 1833 and an oil of Mr Nasmyth on 23 November. Following his first discussions with Linnell about their portraits, Nasmyth wrote on 22 October 1833 to the artist saying that he would also like to have his wife 'done in the Ten pound style'. This is the earliest reference to the 'Ten pound style' being a watercolour and chalk portrait on paper. The drawing was executed on 28 June 1836 and retouched on 14 July.
The eminent London dental surgeon Alexander Nasmyth (1789-1848) was a friend of John Linnell and dentist to his family. Linnell painted portraits in oil of Nasmyth and his wife in 1833-34 and executed the present drawing in the summer of 1836. An oil on panel of Mrs Nasmyth was begun on 14 November 1833 and an oil of Mr Nasmyth on 23 November. Following his first discussions with Linnell about their portraits, Nasmyth wrote on 22 October 1833 to the artist saying that he would also like to have his wife 'done in the Ten pound style'. This is the earliest reference to the 'Ten pound style' being a watercolour and chalk portrait on paper. The drawing was executed on 28 June 1836 and retouched on 14 July.