Captain Francis Grose F.S.A. (1731-1791) - Contemplation

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Captain Francis Grose is famous for publishing the 18th century's largest series of illustrations of ancient monuments of the British Isles. Roughly a thousand plates were produced and appeared in 10 volumes. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists before taking an interest in medieval and classical antiquities. Grose became close friends to Robert Burns in 1789, whom Grose inspured to write 'Tam o'Shanter'. On his death Grose's family sold many of his drawings and watercolours which this example would have been from. He often would draw family members or people he met whilst touring the country and this interesting drawing of a man deep in contemplation could come under either of these circumstances. The buttoned jacket he is wearing suggests he might have been an officer in the British Army which could link to Grose's time with the military.
 
Medium: pencil on paper.
 
15.5 x 15.5 cm, mounted.
 
Provenance: Dudley Snelgrove M.B.E (former curator at the British Musem and also worked at the Paul Mellon Foundation; Martyn Gregory British Watercolours and paintings Gallery.