Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Field Marshal & Prime Minister

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Royal College of Defence Studies, Seaford House, Belgrave Square

Joseph Nollekens, son of Joseph Francis Nollekens, a painter from Antwerp, was born in Dean Street, Soho. He studied under the sculptor Peter Scheemakers, before attending William Shipley’s drawing school on the Strand. In 1762 he travelled to Rome where he worked as an antiques dealer, restorer and copier, as well as sculpting portraits of English tourists. By 1771, he had returned to London and taken a house in Mortimer Street, Marylebone. He was elected a Royal Academician in 1772. He sculpted several church monuments and mythological subjects but it was his portrait busts which grew in popularity throughout his career. His final years were plagued by ill health and by 1816 he was almost deaf. He died at the age of 85.

People

Arthur, 1st Duke of Wellington Wellesley (1769 - 1852)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, man, Duke, Prime Minister, field marshal

Materials & Techniques

marble, bust (as object name), marble bust

Artist

Joseph Nollekens (1737 - 1823)

Title

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) Field Marshal & Prime Minister

Date

Medium

Marble bust

Dimensions

height: 75.00 cm, width: 59.00 cm

Acquisition

Presented by Hereford Museum, July 1955

Inscription

Inscribed on verso: NOLEKENS [sic] Sculptor

Provenance

Purchased from Hereford Museum in 1955

GAC number

3312