Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Thomas Uwins. It dates from 1821 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1821, this watercolor by Thomas Uwins portrays a solitary figure in formal dress, rendered in a light beige backdrop that accentuates the vivid hues of his costume. The work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection and exemplifies Uwins’s early nineteenth‑century approach to portraiture in watercolour.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure stands upright, clothed in a red and gold mantle over a blue jacket, his black feathered hat framing a solemn expression. He holds a scepter in his right hand, a traditional symbol of authority, while his left hand rests on the cloak, suggesting composure and confidence directed toward the viewer.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolor, the painting balances delicate washes with precise detailing, especially in the gold trim and the large brooch on the jacket. The subtle beige ground provides a neutral field that allows the saturated reds, blues, and golds to emerge, reflecting the Romantic era’s interest in vivid colour and emotive presence.
History & Provenance
Thomas Uwins, an English artist known for his genre scenes and portraits, produced this work in the early 1820s. It entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s watercolour collection.
Artist & collection
H Beard Print Collection
An Officer of the Grand Signior
The Duke of Devonshire as an Elizabethan nobleman, c.1600
Daughter of the Dey of Algiers
Polichinelle
Print Collection
Homme vêtu d'un habit en surtout à brandebourgs de camelot de soie
Petit maître en chenille, Habit du matin
Polichinelle
Polichinelle
Untitled
Infanteriofficer