John Henderson
- Artist: Thomas Gainsborough
- Artist: John Jones
- Date: 1783
- Medium: mezzotint
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: John Henderson
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
In this mezzotint you see the stage actor John Henderson, a man with a composed expression and a neatly trimmed beard. His eyes are captured in sharp detail, drawing the viewer into his gaze. The engraving shows him dressed in the simple costume of the period—no elaborate backdrop, just the texture of cloth and subtle shading that give depth to his face.
The print was made by Thomas Gainsborough and published by John Jones on 30 May 1783, a few years after its creation around 1775. It is part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection under accession NPG L269.B6.30.
See it in person
John Henderson 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.
