An outline pencil drawing of Nicholas Pocock by John Varley, inscribed: 'N Pocock Esq / Marine Painter'. The portrait was made using the 'graphic telescope', which had been invented by John Varley’s brother Cornelius in about 1809. Varley seems to have made a series of drawings of artists using this instrument around this time – including of Copley Fielding and John Sell Cotman. Unlike the 1811 oil portrait by Isaac Pocock (see print PAD3321 and copper plate ZBA4465) this profile portrait gives an informal impression of the artist towards the end of his life, and is also evidence of the artistic circle in which he moved.

Nicholas Pocock, a founder member of the Old Watercolour Society, was perhaps the most important marine painter and draughtsman of the late 18th century, succeeding Dominic Serres (d. 1793) in supplying the sort of work required by a high-level professional seafaring clientele. There are over 20 oil paintings and nearly 500 of his drawings and watercolours in the collection, as well as MS logs dating from his time at sea as a merchant captain. The drawings include a pencil self-portrait of about 1790 (PAD3322).

The item is framed. [RQ/ PvdM]