Study of four heads in profile

Worlidge, a portrait painter and etcher, divided much of his working life between London and Bath and is credited with introducing both William Hoare (1707-1792) and Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) to the work of Rembrandt van Rijn, whose drypoint etching style he imitated. The present drawing demonstrates the direct, confident draughtsmanship which is characteristic of Worlidge at his best, with the short, broken line and hatching showing the influence of Rembrandt's etching technique.

Other examples of his drawings are in the British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.