Jack Ford
- Artist: Unknown artist
- Date: circa 1812-1813
- Medium: hand-coloured etching
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: Jack Ford
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is “Jack Ford,” a hand‑coloured etching from about 1812–13. The image shows the boxer in profile, his face lined with intensity and a neatly trimmed beard. Fine etched lines render the folds of his coat and the subtle shadow across his cheek, while the hand colouring adds a splash of colour to his eyes and clothing – a touch that brings warmth to the monochrome technique.
The artist is unknown, but the work sits comfortably among other early 19th‑century portraits of sportsmen. Jack Ford was an active prize‑fighter at this time; his name appears on only one portrait in our collection. The etching style and colouring give it a lively quality that was popular for capturing sporting figures then.
See it in person
Jack Ford is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
