Charles Blakes
- Artist: James Macardell
- Date: 1750
- Medium: mezzotint
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: Charles Blakes
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Charles Blakes”, a mezzotint portrait from the 1750s by James Macardell. The subject’s face fills most of the frame, set against a dark background that lets his eyes stand out. Macardell’s technique brings subtle tonal gradations, so you can see light catch on his cheekbones and the faint line above the mouth. The portrait shows him in period costume, with hair neatly combed back. Macardell was an engraver who worked on almost 300 portraits; he also appears as a sitter himself. This image was lent by John Murray to the National Portrait Gallery.
See it in person
Charles Blakes is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
