Artwork
William Gunn
William Gunn is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Richard James Lane. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is a lithographic print created in 1836 by the English engraver Richard James Lane. Executed on papier collé, the image presents a monochrome portrait of an elderly gentleman rendered in profile. The composition is concise, focusing on the sitter’s facial features and attire, and is signed at the lower edge with the name “Wm Gunn,” identifying the subject.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a mature man turned sideways, his expression solemn and his visage marked by pronounced lines that suggest experience and age. He wears a high‑collared coat with subtle lapels, a fashion typical of the early nineteenth century, which situates the sitter within the social conventions of his time.
Technique & Style
Lane employed lithography, a planographic process that allows the artist to draw directly onto a stone or metal plate with a greasy medium. The resulting image retains a loose, sketch‑like quality, reminiscent of a rapid pencil or charcoal study, rather than a finely polished engraving. This approach preserves the immediacy of the original drawing.
History & Provenance
The print bears the artist’s name in the corner, confirming Lane’s involvement, while the inscription “Wm Gunn” identifies the individual portrayed.
The print bears the artist’s name in the corner, confirming Lane’s involvement, while the inscription “Wm Gunn” identifies the individual portrayed. Produced in the mid‑1830s, the piece reflects the period’s growing interest in portraiture as a means of documenting personal identity. Its survival in paper form suggests it was likely distributed as a limited edition or kept in a private collection.
Artist & collection
