Brief description
Graphite portrait of Charles Dickens by Alfred d'Orsay, 1842
Label
Alfred, Count d'Orsay, was a French artist who, like Dickens, was a 'dandy' - someone who dressed extravagantly and was concerned with appearance and fashion. The two were good friends and d'Orsay was co-godfather to Dickens's son Alfred alongside Alfred Tennyson. D'Orsay had drawn Dickens in 1841 but was dissatisfied with the result. This 1842 attempt was the last portrait d'Orsay produced (he died in 1852) and is regarded as one of his best.
Collection
object
Object number
DH349
Object type
drawing
Production person
d'Orsay, Alfred
Production date
28.12.1842
Inscription content
‘d’Orsay fecit 28 Dec 1842’
'Dickens: the best of the two'

DH349