In the Company of Friends : Portrait Drawing in 17th-Century London

Charming small exhibition at the British Museum of portrait drawings by a group of late 17th century artists based in London who knew each other.

The display marks the acquisition by the museum of drawings by Samuel Cooper and Richard Gibson and they are shown with other works by artists in their circle who include Sir Peter Lely, Charles Beale, son of Mary Beale, and Sir Godfrey Kneller.

The images are of family members, friends and servants as well as fellow artists. Most touching was Cooper's drawing of his cousin's infant son who died at a few weeks old.

I loved Gibson's delicate drawing of his son-in-law, Michael Rosse, a jeweller and Kneller's of the artist Hugh Howard who he trained with in Rome.

Closes 25 January 20


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