Portrait of Charles David

A lithograph of Charles David, drawn by J. Stewart and published by M & N. Hanhart.

A large black and white rectangular engraving of a middle-aged white male with wispy ear-length hair and sideburns. He is seated on a simple chair with some woodwork detail, his body positioned to the left of the frame and his gaze directly toward the artist. He wears a smart black frockcoat, waistcoat and trousers, and a white shirt with a large black bow at the collar. A pocket watch chain hangs around his waist, and in his right hand he holds a book. Small text underneath the image on the left reads: ‘PAINTED & DRAWN ON STONE BY J STEWART.’ Over to the right, text reads: ‘PRINTED BY M & N HANHART’. A handwritten signature in black ink on the bottom right of the page reads ‘Charles David’.

The individual in question may be Reverend Charles David Brereton (1820-1876), who studied at Cambridge and later became a British consular chaplain in Spain. Brereton's timeline would align with the engraver’s years of practice, however the clothing he is wearing would suggest the background of a scholar or gentleman, given that he is not pictured in vestments but a rather luxurious-looking frockcoat with pocket-watch and book. Nonetheless, there are a number of publications held in the Special Collections at the University of Exeter authored by a Charles David Brereton, such as inquiries and observations on agricultural labour, which may be further evidence that this is indeed the Charles David pictured.

James Stewart (1791-1863) was a Scottish painter and engraver based in Edinburgh and later London. His work featured in the 1840 publication of Engravings From The Pictures Of The National Gallery, published by the National Gallery and John Pye. The publishers, Michael & Nicholas Hanhart (1836-1882), were a partnership (presumably brothers) of printmakers and lithographic printers based in London, with many of their printworks now held at the British Museum.

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Portraits