Portrait of Thomas Pleasants

Portrait of Thomas Pleasants

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Portrait of Thomas Pleasants (1728-1818), Irish landowner and philanthropist. The subject depicted full length, seated, in three-quarter left profile and gazing front; in an open-arm, red-upholstered fauteuil-style armchair, against the rear left support of which rests a leather-bound volume, the spine inscribed in gold lettering VISITORS OBSERVATIONS STOVE TENTER HOUSE; his left arm on the armrest, his right arm on a red cloth-covered table upon which are a silver tray with a pen and inkwell, a pocket-watch, two small, thin books and a plan of the front elevation of the Gate House, Botanic Garden[s], Glasnevin (for the construction of which, Pleasants donated £700 to the [Royal] Dublin Society in 1815); wearing dark-coloured frock coat, waistcoat and breeches, white stock, jabot and ruffled cuffs and black, knee high boots; set against a background with a window, draped with a red-and-gold damask curtain, through which the façade of the Stove Tenter House, Dublin (for the construction of which, Pleasants donated £13,000 in 1814) can be seen. Signed with monogram and dated lower right, SW 1820. Provenance: The Pleasants Bequest, 1818.
Solomon Williams was a pupil at the Society’s Schools. In 1771.

RDS Treasures Collection

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RDS Library & Archives

Painting

1820

Oil on canvas

160 x 122 cm