Peter Rouw (the Younger) (English 1771-1852) - Portrait Relief of Joseph Barker

Peter Rouw (the Younger) (English 1771-1852) - Portrait Relief of Joseph Barker.

Signed, inscribed and dated 1809.

Gilt bronze, set in original oval gilt bronze frame, convex glazed.

A bust-length portrait, profile to the right, wearing coat, frilled chemise and cravat.

Joseph Barker (1782-1809) was a gentleman artist, the brother of Thomas Barker of Bath. Joseph studied at the Royal Academy, in the same class as Henry Rouw (brother of Peter) in 1800. Joseph's premature death in 1809 at the age of 27 may have inspired Rouw to produce this portrait. A portrait of Joseph Barker by his other brother, Benjamin, dated circa 1800 is held at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath (BATVG : P : 1911.3).

Peter Rouw (1771-1852) was a London sculptor and wax modeller. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy of Arts between 1794 and 1852. Five wax reliefs by Rouw can be found in the collection at the National Portrait Gallery, including portraits of James Watt and William Pitt (the latter created in the same year as this portrait). Other examples of his work are in the Royal Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the British Museum and the National Trust Collections at Tatton Park, Cheshire. One of the portraits at Tatton Park, depicting Sir Mark Masterman-Sykes, 3rd Bt, MP (1771-1823) is inscribed to the reverse "Peter Rouw Sculptor Modeller of Gems and Cameos to His R.H. the Prince Regent, 22 Carmarthan Street. Fitzroy Square or Portland Road, London 1813", a position Rouw achieved in 1807. He also designed many monuments across England,

It is not known who cast this portrait, but two silver-gilt portraits of the Prince Regent designed by Rouw at the Victoria and Albert Museum were engraved in 1814 by J. Barber, a medallist who was occasionally associated with Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the Royal Goldsmiths, of Ludgate Hill in the City of London. (Accession numbers 390-1878 and M.104-1966.) Given Rouw’s patronage by the Prince Regent from 1807, and the position of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell as Royal Goldsmiths from 1797 until 1843, it is possible this portrait relief was made by this eminent firm.

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