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

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

Sir Thomas Lawrence was born in Bristol; the son of a supervisor of excise. In 1773 the family moved to Wiltshire to run a coaching inn but financial difficulties led them to move again to Bath, where Lawrence first worked as a portraitist. He may have had lessons from William Hoare, before enrolling at the Royal Academy schools in 1787. Aged 20, he received a royal commission for portraits of Queen Charlotte (1789-90) and Princess Amelia (1789). At 23 he replaced Reynolds as Painter-in-Ordinary and at 25, became a Royal Academician. Despite such success, he never escaped crippling debt. In 1815 he was knighted and commissioned to paint the Waterloo Chamber series of portraits. He replaced West as President of the Royal Academy in 1820.

People

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

Places

England, London, St. Paul's Cathedral, City of London

Subjects

topography, male portrait, 19th century costume, military uniform, boots, breeches, medal, Prime Minister, sword, field marshal, cathedral, archway, dome, curtain, chair

Materials & Techniques

etching

Artist

Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 - 1830)
William Bromley (1769 - 1842)

Title

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

Date

published 17 February 1816

Medium

Etching

Dimensions

height: 73.50 cm, width: 52.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from F B Daniell & Son, June 1958

GAC number

4652