Thomas Patch
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patch was an English painter, engraver and caricaturist. He made a living by basing himself in Italy and undertaking commissions from rich young British men on Grand tour
s. His paintings today are in the Royal Collection
and various museums. Patch was thrown out of Rome probably for a homosexual act.
. Initially he worked for Joseph Vernet, creating landscapes of Tivoli and pastiches of Vernet's work. He was forced to leave Rome after some homosexual act. He was in Florence
in 1755, where he was commissioned to paint people on their Grand tour
s. Here he was assisted by his friendship with Sir Horatio Mann
, who was the British envoy and therefore a point of contact with British tourists arriving in Florence.
While there he completed studies of human physiognomy, looking at the expressions and facial types as well as completing portraits of many in the British society in Florence. He also studied the old masters and published studies of them. Towards the end of his life his output of paintings slowed. Patch was also known to be an art dealer.
In about 1763, Patch completed three views of Florence that are now part of the Royal Collection
. They are thought to have been bought by George III.
On October 19, 1767, he was enterprising enough to witness the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius
which he painted from both the land and the sea.
In 1772, Patch published The life of Frá Bartolommeo della Porta, a Tuscan painter, with his works, engraved from the original pictures, dedicated, to the Honourable Horace Walpole, an Intelligent Promoter of the fine Arts, by his most Obedient and most humble Servant Thomas Patch in Florence.
's "The Tribuna of The Uffizi", where he is talking to Sir Horace Mann and in his own painting which is a caricature of David Garrick
and which also includes Mann.
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
s. His paintings today are in the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
and various museums. Patch was thrown out of Rome probably for a homosexual act.
Biography
Patch was born in Exeter in 1725, the son of a doctor. He had not completed his medical studies when he came to Rome in 1747 as a grand tourist and where he met Joshua ReynoldsJoshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
. Initially he worked for Joseph Vernet, creating landscapes of Tivoli and pastiches of Vernet's work. He was forced to leave Rome after some homosexual act. He was in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
in 1755, where he was commissioned to paint people on their Grand tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
s. Here he was assisted by his friendship with Sir Horatio Mann
Sir Horace Mann, 1st Baronet
Sir Horace Mann, 1st Baronet KB , diplomat, was a long standing British resident in Florence.-Biography:...
, who was the British envoy and therefore a point of contact with British tourists arriving in Florence.
While there he completed studies of human physiognomy, looking at the expressions and facial types as well as completing portraits of many in the British society in Florence. He also studied the old masters and published studies of them. Towards the end of his life his output of paintings slowed. Patch was also known to be an art dealer.
In about 1763, Patch completed three views of Florence that are now part of the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
. They are thought to have been bought by George III.
On October 19, 1767, he was enterprising enough to witness the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, about east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting...
which he painted from both the land and the sea.
In 1772, Patch published The life of Frá Bartolommeo della Porta, a Tuscan painter, with his works, engraved from the original pictures, dedicated, to the Honourable Horace Walpole, an Intelligent Promoter of the fine Arts, by his most Obedient and most humble Servant Thomas Patch in Florence.
Likeness
There are self-portraits of Patch and he also appears in Johann ZoffanyJohann Zoffany
Johan Zoffany, Zoffani or Zauffelij was a German neoclassical painter, active mainly in England...
's "The Tribuna of The Uffizi", where he is talking to Sir Horace Mann and in his own painting which is a caricature of David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
and which also includes Mann.
Works
- Thomas Patch, 1745
- The Punch Party, 1760
- David GarrickDavid GarrickDavid Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
in Italy, 1763 - Piazza della Signoria, 1763
- A view of the Arno in Florence by day, c.1763
- A view of the Arno in Florence by night, c.1763
- A distant view of Florence, c.1763