| Description | Consists of sketchbooks created by Scharf during his service for the Gallery.
The sketchbooks usually record portraits that have been offered to the Gallery, 'preparatory to being seen by the Board or preparatory to their removal when declined'. They also contain sketches made during Scharf's expeditions 'paid for by the Government'.
The sketchbooks include detailed notes on particular pictures and notes, added by Scharf at a later date, concerning the subsequent sale or donation of paintings. These notes often include details of relevant sale catalogue numbers as well as references to the Trustees' meetings at which particular portraits were discussed.
Some of the sketchbooks also include sketches of scenes of everyday life, architecture and landscapes.
The sub-series is divided into three sub-sub-series:
-Indexes to the Trustees' [TSB] and Scharf sketchbooks [SSB]
-Trustees' sketchbooks, arranged according to the volume numbers given by Scharf and recording portraits from various collections in various locations, indexed by Scharf
-Miscellaneous Trustees' sketchbooks, recording portraits in specific collections in one location, not in the index created by Scharf
Please note that the lists of sitters given in the descriptions of particular sketchbooks is not completely comprehensive as some of the sitters could not be identified.
Please note that there are also typed indexes to the Trustees' sketchbooks. These are arranged alphabetically by sitter. Copies can be found in the National Portrait Gallery Library. |