James Watt

Maker Henry Raeburn (British, 1756-1823)

SitterSitter: James Watt (British, 1736 - 1819)

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Date1815

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 30 × 25 in. (76.2 × 63.5 cm.) frame: 37 5/8 × 32 3/4 × 3 1/8 in. (95.6 × 83.2 × 7.9 cm.)

DescriptionThis painting portrays the famous inventor of the steam engine James Watt.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

On view

Label TextPlacing the somberly dressed figure of James Watt against a shadowy backdrop, Henry Raeburn focuses all of our attention on the famous inventor’s brilliantly illuminated head. Like many celebrities of the day, Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, wanted a portrait that would be both an accurate record of his appearance and an image suitable for engravings. Although Watt and his friends thought this portrait a good likeness, they eventually rejected it, with the comment that it “frowns too much.”

Bibliography

British paintings at the Huntington

Object number63.38