Artwork
Two Oriental Heads
Two Oriental Heads is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist John Hamilton Mortimer. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Two Oriental Heads is a pen and black ink drawing on laid paper, created by British artist John Hamilton Mortimer in 1772.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing features two oriental heads, reflecting Mortimer's interest in figure studies and imaginative, often historically tinged subjects, characteristic of his practice during the 1770s.
Technique & Style
Executed with pen and black ink on laid paper, a common medium for the period, the work showcases Mortimer's handling of line and tone in a restrained yet expressive manner.
History & Provenance
Mortimer, who later served as President of the Society of Artists in 1774, produced this work at 39 years old, before his premature death.
Context
Created amidst Mortimer's output of dramatic and romanticized scenes, including Italian settings and war depictions, *Two Oriental Heads* sits within his broader exploration of varied subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Hamilton Mortimer (17 September 1740 – 4 February 1779) was a British figure and landscape painter and printmaker, known for romantic paintings set in Italy, works depicting conversations, and works drawn in the…
![Mucius Scaevola [recto], by John Hamilton Mortimer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-hamilton-mortimer--mucius-scaevola-recto--0de678fa443f7962-w320.webp)
