John Brett

In the summer of 1857, Brett was avidly reading and attempting to follow the precepts of John Ruskin’s recently published Elements of Drawing, a copy of which is on display in the exhibition. This self-portrait is marked by a clarity of conception that demonstrates his absorption of Ruskin’s vision. Crosshatched pen marks in varied thicknesses create the play of light and shade over his features, becoming especially forceful in the large, shadowed eyes. The rough texture of his beard is mimicked by a frantic nest of quickly scratched lines. The acute detail of the face melts away into the sketchiness of the figure’s shoulders and chest, creating a contrast that highlights the powerful focus of the artist’s gaze (2022).