Portrait of John Parry Holding his Harp
Artist: William Parry (Welsh, 1743–1791)
Date: 1780-1790
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Tate Britain, London, United Kingdom
Description
This portrait shows the celebrated Wesh musician John Parry, sensitively painted by his son William Parry. John Parry’s reputation as ‘the famous blind Harper’ is visualised here – he is shown with his eyes closed (as was conventional for blind sitters) and holding a Welsh triple harp. Rather than playing this instrument, John’s hands rest on top and he appears lost in thought. This may allude to his perception of the world through his other senses, like touch and sound. John’s deep contemplation also evokes the poetic, other-worldly nature of music, associating him with the popular, romantic image of the Welsh bard. This might be the portrait William Parry exhibited in 1787 as a posthumous tribute to his father.
