This portrait has been traditionally identified as being of Sir David Wilkie. The two artists certainly knew each other and their paths frequently crossed. In the year that this portrait was painted, both he and Geddes were established in England after travelling on the continent - Wilkie all over Europe staying for a while in Rome with his fellow artists, and Geddes mainly in Italy. In the early 1830's both were in London: Wilkie had been appointed principal painter to King George IV, and Geddes had established his portrait practice. A portrait painted by Geddes of Wilkie in 1816 is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (no.PG 1443) together with others by Phillips and Beechey, and three self-portraits. Of similar date to the present painting is a marble bust of c.1833 in a private collection