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Captain Downman, the artist's brother

John Downman British, Welsh
Sitter Francis Dowman British
ca. 1776
Not on view
In this early work, Dowman used subtle grays to portray his elder brother Francis. An inscription at lower right indicates that the sitter holds the rank of captain. He later was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Artillery, and participated in the 1778 British capture of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia from the French.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Captain Downman, the artist's brother
  • Artist: John Downman (British, Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire 1749–1824 Wrexham, Wales)
  • Sitter: Francis Dowman (British, 1744–1825)
  • Date: ca. 1776
  • Medium: Black chalk, brush and gray wash
  • Dimensions: sheet: 10 1/8 x 8 1/8 in. (25.7 x 20.6 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Alexandrine Sinsheimer, 1958
  • Object Number: 59.23.29
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Mrs. Morgan and her Child, John Downman  British, Welsh, Watercolor, colored chalk, charcoal over graphite
John Downman
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Welsh Triple Harp, Wood, various materials, British (Welsh)
British (Welsh)
18th century (?)
The Archangel Gabriel announcing the birth of Christ, Lucas van Leyden  Netherlandish, Pen and brown ink; squared in black chalk; framing lines in pen and brown ink
Lucas van Leyden
1520s
Mrs. Downman, sister-in-law of the artist, John Downman  British, Welsh, Black chalk, brush and gray wash
John Downman
Sitter Jane Downman
1776
Welsh Triple Harp, John Richards  British, Welsh, Wood, various materials., British (Welsh)
John Richards
ca. 1750

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