Sir Edward John Poynter, Bt., P.R.A., R.W.S.

Purchased from an art dealer in Kirkcudbright on 12 May 2007 by the present owner,

Poynter produced a series of head studies in a similar format, from various different models for his 1884 painting, The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (Art Gallery of New South Wales). The angle of the model's head and his downward glance, suggests that it was for the head of the King that the present sketch was made, looking down at Sheba as she ascends the golden steps to his throne and he moves forward in greeting. An inscription from the backboard of a previous frame describes the study as a "Head of an Egyptian" and it is interesting that for the heads of Sheba and of Solomon Poynter appears to have employed models of various ethnicities, to try to achieve the appearance that he wanted.