Dimensions
39.75inch wide
49.25inch high
(100.96 cm wide 125.09 cm high)
External Dimensions
47.50inch framed width
58.50inch framed height
(120.65 cm framed width 148.59 cm framed height)
Literature
M64314
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM FOLKES ESQ
THOMAS HUDSON
1701-1779 Signed, inscribed & dated 1750
Oil on canvas 49 ¼ x 39 ¾ inches
Framed size 58 ½ x 47 ½ inches
Thomas Hudson was born in Devon in 1701 and he studied under the portrait painter Jonathan Richardson, whose daughter he ran away with and married in 1725.
Hudson was one of the foremost portrait painters in England in the mid 18th Century, who practiced in the West Country as well as London from 1730 –1740. He was influenced by Van Loo, whom he succeeded as principal, the portrait painter for British Society. By 1744 he had established himself as the leading portraitist in London attracting eminent sitters.
Hudson painted at least 400 portraits, about 80 of which were engraved. Hudson and Ramsay both employed Joseph & Alexander Van Aken to paint their draperies. The practice of employing painters in the mid 18th Century was very common. The Van Aken brothers were the best skilled painters of silks, satins, velvets and embroideries and their contribution was considered to be an enhancement to the final painting.
Hudson had many pupils including Joseph Wright of Derby, John Hamilton Mortimer and Joshua Reynolds, indeed his influence and importance to 18th Century painting in Britain is immense.
He exhibited his work at The Society of Artists of Great Britain, and at The Free Society of Artists.
Hudson was a member of the group of artists including Hogarth, Allan Ramsay, Francis Hayman and the sculpture John Michael Rysbrack who met at Old Slaughter’s Coffee House in the mid-1740’s and who promoted Thomas Coram’s Foundling Hospital, of which they were Governors, as the first public exhibiting space for artists in London.
Hudson visited France and the Low Countries in 1748 and was accompanied by Hogarth, Hayman and others. He briefly visited Italy in 1752 with Roubiliac.
Because of his tremendous success he kept a large studio with many assistants. Many works of poorer quality are attributed to him but his true work proves the breadth of his talent.
Later in life he married again, a Mrs Fiennes, a widow with a good fortune.
Thomas Hudson died in Twickenham on 26 January 1779.
Represented: National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery of Ireland, Tate, Dulwich Art Gallery, Goldsmiths Company, Blenheim Place and Yale.
Bibl: Portrait Painters in Britain – B. Stewart & M. Cutten
Thomas Hudson Exhibition catalogue. The Iveagh Bequest Kenwood 1979
WILLIAM FOLKES
(The name is variously spelled Folkes, Ffolkes and Foulkes)
William Folkes was born in 1700 or 1701 the son of Martin Folkes, Attorney General, and Dorothy Hovell of Hillington, Norfolk. He married Mary Browne, only daughter of Sir William Browne of King’s Lynn, President of the Royal College of Physicians and a poet, who had been knighted through the interests of the Dukes of Montagu.
William became a attorney in London and King’s Lynn and Clerk of the Alienation Office. He acted as an agent for the Dukes of Montagu , Richmond and Manchester.
He had several children including Sir Martin Browne Folkes F.R.S. who was M.P. for Lynn 1790-1820.
The sitter’s brother, Martin, became a famous antiquarian and President of the Royal Society.
Thomas Hudson painted portraits of several members William Folkes’ extended family including those of his wife Mary, who inherited her father’s collection of paintings, both of his parents-in-law, his brother Martin Folkes who became President of the Royal Society.
