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Notes

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This is a full-length portrait of a kitchen porter, aged 71. He is standing in a park next to an outsized column, a basket on his arm, taking snuff. It is noted that he was 'deficient in intellect, defective in form'.

There are two sets of servant portraits at Erddig and this is one of the first set. Individual portraits of servants are not uncommon, but the sets at Erddig, which established a tradition later carried on in the form of photographs, may be unique. The first set was painted in the 1790s for Philip Yorke I, who wrote and published the 'Crude-Ditties' accompanying them. The second set was painted for his son and successor, Simon Yorke II, who never had himself portrayed.

National Trust, Erddig

Title

Jack Nicholas (b.1720), Kitchen Porter, Aged 71

Date

1791

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 114 x W 94 cm

Accession number

1151284

Acquisition method

gift from Philip Yorke III along with the estate, house and other contents, 1973

Work type

Painting

National Trust, Erddig

Wrexham (Wrecsam) LL13 0YT Wales

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Artist or maker

John Walters

1721–1797

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Tom Jones (b.1760), Butcher and Publican of Wrexham, Aged 36 National Trust, Erddig
Jack Nicholas (b.1720), Kitchen Porter, Aged 71 National Trust, Erddig
William Williams (b.1723), Blacksmith, Aged 70 National Trust, Erddig
Edward Prince (b.1718/1719), Carpenter, Aged 73 National Trust, Erddig
Mrs Jane Ebrell (b.1706), Former Housemaid and 'Spider-Brusher', Aged 87 National Trust, Erddig
Jack Henshaw (b.1731/1732), Gamekeeper National Trust, Erddig