Portret van Robert Bell Livesey

About this artwork

height 355 mm x width 254 mm

Art Historical Context

This engraving presents a formal half-length portrait of Robert Bell Livesey, shown in three-quarter view against a dark, draped background. The sitter wears a heavy dark coat with large buttons and a crisp white cravat, his right hand resting lightly on the garment. Fine shading and soft tonal gradations model his face, powdered hair, and the folds of the fabric, while a small coat of arms and the inscription “ROBERT BELL LIVESEY ESQ. KILDALE” appear below the image. Created by William Barnard on paper between 1806 and 1849, the print reproduces an original painting by G. Marshall. Barnard’s technique captures the restrained elegance of early nineteenth-century British portraiture, emphasizing the sitter’s status through careful attention to costume and posture. Now preserved in the Rijksmuseum, the work offers visitors a glimpse of Georgian-era formality and the skill of reproductive engraving in disseminating likenesses of notable figures.