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Notes

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This painting almost certainly represents the American Shakespearean actor Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807?–67) in character. Around 1826–7 the same sitter appears in several paintings by British artists, including another picture by Simpson, The Captive Slave 1827 (Art Institute of Chicago) for which this appears to be a related study. Aldridge came to Britain in 1824, and embarked on what became a hugely successful career in Europe. It is unclear whether he was working as a professional model for these artists, or sitting to them to promote his own public image.

Tate Britain

London

Title

Head of a Man (?Ira Frederick Aldridge)

Date

exhibited 1827

Medium

Oil paint on canvas

Measurements

H 73.3 x W 56.2 cm

Accession number

N00382

Acquisition method

Presented by Robert Vernon 1847

Work type

Painting

Tate Britain

Millbank, London, Greater London SW1P 4RG England

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Artist or maker

John Simpson

1782–1847

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Arthur Wellesley (1769–1852), 1st Duke of Wellington, KG English Heritage, The Wellington Collection, Apsley House
The Duke of Wellington (1769–1852) The Royal Hospital Chelsea
Henry Yeats Smythies Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge
Head of a Man (?Ira Frederick Aldridge) Tate Britain
Sir Charles Napier (1786–1860), Admiral National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait
William IV (1765–1837) Brighton & Hove Museums
Clarkson Stanfield (1793–1867) National Maritime Museum
12 more