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Portrait of an Unknown Man

Image credit: Dr Johnson's House

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Notes

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This painting, once known as ‘Portrait of a Black Man’, potentially represents Francis Barber. Barber, an enslaved Jamaican, started in the service of Samuel Johnson in 1752 at the age of about ten. Sent by his owner’s son, who was a great friend of Johnson’s, his presence was intended to rouse Johnson from the grief caused by his wife’s death in March of that year. This plan succeeded so well that Barber was still with Johnson at his death. Johnson was ardently anti-slavery; he paid for Barber to be educated and made him his heir. This portrait is a copy of Sir Joshua Reynolds' original by his pupil James Northcote.

Dr Johnson's House

London

Title

Portrait of an Unknown Man

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 90 x W 77 cm

Accession number

70

Acquisition method

presented by Cecil, Lord Harmsworth

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

Dr Johnson's House

17 Gough Square, London, Greater London EC4A 3DE England

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