Henry Stacy Marks (1829-1898)

Photographer: David Wilkie Wynfield (1837–1887)

c.1863

Albumen print

7 3/4 x 6 3/8 inches (19.7 x 16.2 cm).

Collection: National Portrait Gallery, London, accession no. NPG P78

Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Reproduced with kind permission. [Click on image to enlarge it, and see commentary below; mouse over the text for links.]

Marks as a Painter

Wynfield as a Painter

Commentary by Dennis T. Lanigan

Wynfield described this as a photograph of Marks in a German medieval costume. Despite being supposedly inspired by the art of Albrecht Durer or Lucas Cranach, the photograph actually shows Marks in a Tudor costume and is more reminiscent of the portraits of Hans Holbein. It shows Marks bust length and full-face, with an introspective expression, and with his chin resting on his right hand. He wears a plumed cap with a white pleated shirt and lace cuffs over a darker costume and with fur draped around his shoulders. Julia Hacking has noted, "his use of foliage to break up an otherwise empty background was a borrowing from Holbein" (19).

Marks was a member of the St. John's Wood Clique. In 1871 he was elected as an Associate of the Society of Painters in Water Colours and became a full member in 1883. He was made an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1871 and a full member in 1878. He was both a fine and decorative artist. Marks was best noted for his humorous paintings, particularly from the time of the Middle Ages, and as his career progressed he became increasingly interested in painting birds.

Bibliography

Hacking, Juliet. Princes of Victorian Bohemia. London: Prestel, 2000. See pp. 19, 40 and 86.

Keaney, Magdalene. "This Portrait." National Portrait Gallery. Web. 14 December 2023.

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Created 14 December 2023