Portrait of John de Verdion

anonymous, c. 1790 - c. 1795

John de Verdion (c. 1744-1802) was a German bookseller. He had been christened Theodora Grahn but lived as a man. There were more people who were born female but lived as men for shorter or longer periods. They had to watch out for being ‘exposed.’ This happened to De Verdion: his story was written up in sensationalist magazines and he was harassed. Even after his death, someone changed his name on his gravestone to his female baptismal name.

  • Artwork typeprint
  • Object numberRP-P-2015-26-1252
  • Dimensionsheight 169 mm x width 127 mm

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Portrait of John de Verdion

  • Object type

  • Object number

    RP-P-2015-26-1252

  • Description

    Portret van Theodora Grahn, beter bekend onder haar alias Theodora de Verdion. Verkleed als man met een stok, een paraplu en twee folianten onder haar arm, staat ze voor de etalage van een boekhandel.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • collector's mark: Lugt 4779
    • collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Creation

  • Creation

    • printmaker: anonymous
    • publisher: C. Johnson (uitgever) (mentioned on object), London

  • Dating

    c. 1790 - c. 1795

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Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    height 169 mm x width 127 mm

Explanatory note

  • Op de prent staat vermeld dat kopers van het tijdschrift The Wonderful Magazine dit portret er gratis bij kregen.

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    S. Emmering Bequest, Amsterdam

  • Acquisition

    bequest 2000

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Persistent URL

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