Studio of Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A. (1769-1830)

Portrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), in a black coat and breeches, his arms folded, wearing the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, holding a baton, in a coastal landscape

Details

Studio of Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A. (1769-1830)
Portrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), in a black coat and breeches, his arms folded, wearing the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, holding a baton, in a coastal landscape
oil on canvas
95¼ x 62 in. (242 x 157.5 cm.)

Provenance

The artist's studio sale; Christie's, London, 18 June 1831, lot 114 (60 gns. to Napier).
R. Napier of Shandon; Christie's, London, 11 April 1877, lot 527, as 'Lawrence and Simpson' (33 gns. to Graves).
Reginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher (1852-1930), and by descent to the present owner.

Literature

K. Garlick, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Oxford, 1989, under no. 805 (a).

Lot Essay

This picture is a studio version of the full-length portrait which Lawrence painted of the Duke of Wellington, in his military grey coat, for Lord Charles Stewart, later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, who was his Adjutant-General between 1809 and 1812, in circa 1814 (Garlick, op.cit, no. 805 (a); Marquess of Londonderry). However, in the present picture the duke is shown with the addition of the badge of the Golden Fleece.

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