Artwork
Self portraits of the artist with two male profiles
Self portraits of the artist with two male profiles is a drawing by Forbes-Robertson. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. A single sheet from 1850 contains a central self-portrait in profile, accompanied by three smaller, lightly sketched male heads.
About this work
Overview
A single sheet from 1850 contains a central self-portrait in profile, accompanied by three smaller, lightly sketched male heads. Executed in pencil and dark ink, the drawing presents one fully developed face alongside tentative studies, suggesting a private exercise in observation and form rather than a finished composition.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is the artist himself, rendered with deliberate weight and detail. The surrounding profiles—bearded, smooth-faced, and balding—appear as variations in age, expression, or identity. These may reflect introspection, experimentation with likeness, or an exploration of male physiognomy, but no explicit narrative or symbolic intent is evident.
Technique & Style
The main portrait uses bold, loose strokes to define beard and hair, conveying texture through rapid, confident marks. The surrounding heads are fainter, drawn with minimal pencil, their forms barely outlined. This contrast between resolved and provisional lines suggests a process of visual inquiry, where the artist tests possibilities before settling on a final image.
History & Provenance
The drawing originates from John Forbes-Robertson’s personal sketchbook during the mid-19th century. Its survival indicates it was retained as a working document, not discarded after use. No public record of its ownership exists prior to its inclusion in institutional collections, suggesting it remained in private hands for much of its history.
Context
In 1850, British artists commonly used sketchbooks to refine portraiture and study human anatomy. Forbes-Robertson’s sheet aligns with this practice, reflecting a period when drawing was both a technical discipline and a means of personal exploration. The absence of background or setting emphasizes the focus on facial structure over narrative.
Legacy
The drawing offers insight into the artist’s private process, revealing how professional skill was cultivated through repetition and variation. Though not widely exhibited, it contributes to understanding 19th-century British draftsmanship as a quiet, iterative pursuit rather than a public performance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Forbes-Robertson fills sketchbooks with late-Victorian and early-Edwardian life, mostly in black ink on paper.
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