Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) in red coat with gold-embroidered collar, gold epaulette and lacing, white waistcoat and frilled cravat, wearing the jewel of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the blue moiré sash and breast star of the Order of the Garter and the cross of a Knight Commander of the Order of Bath suspended from a red ribbon around his neck (artist's join)

In 1815 Rochard went to Brussels to escape conscription and through an introduction from the Spanish Ambasador, General Count Don Alva, a friend of the Duke of Wellington, had been commanded to paint a portrait of the Duke for King Ferdinand VII of Spain. On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Rochard went to the Anglo-allied headquarters and painted the Duke. In fifty minutes, he painted three watercolour sketches of different poses which he later worked up into portraits and charged Wellington 120 francs each. It appears that this portrait dated 12 June 1815 Brussels, is the sole version which was certainly painted on the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras and Ligny. Other versions of this portrait are in Stratfield Saye House, nos. 182 and 183; Sotheby's, London, 11 December 1978, lot 142, signed and dated 1815 (see J. Nimmergut/A.-M. Wager, Miniaturen · Dosen, Munich, 1982, illustrated p. 44 fig. F4); and Sotheby's, London, 25 June 1979, lot 67 (given to Lady Georgiana Lennox, later Lady de Ros on 22 June 1815); and Bonhams, London, 5 November 2002, lot 113, signed and dated June 1815.