Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735-1811)

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Downing Street

Pompeo Girolamo Batoni was born in Lucca, Italy; the son of a goldsmith. He trained with his father, before travelling to Rome in 1727 to study painting. Here, his drawings from the antique were purchased by British collectors. From the 1730s, he produced altarpieces for churches in Rome. By 1740 he was firmly established as a history painter. However, Batoni is most recognised for almost 50 years of painting the portraits of British Grand Tour travellers and, of some 275 surviving portraits by the artist, about 75 per cent show British or Irish sitters. His studio was also visited by royal and sovereign sitters and his portraits were distinct for their inclusion of antiquities and views of Rome. Batoni died in Rome at the age of 79.
James Watson was born in Dublin and initially trained at the Dublin Society. He later travelled to London, probably as a pupil of Irish printmaker James Macardell. Watson exhibited as a mezzotint engraver at the Society of Artists (1762-75), later becoming a fellow and, in 1770, the Director. After Macardell’s death in 1765, he inherited the role of principal engraver to Reynolds. He also engraved works by Gainsborough, Cotes, van Dyck, Rubens and others. From c.1762 he published his own works. He was able to enter semi-retirement by 1778 and, during his career of some 30 years, produced around 200 plates, most of which were portraits. He died in 1790 leaving a daughter, Caroline (also an engraver), and a son, James Edmund (a lawyer).

People

Augustus Henry, 3rd Duke of Grafton Fitzroy (1735 - 1811)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, 18th century costume, military uniform, Duke, Prime Minister

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (1708 - 1787)
James Watson (c.1740 - 1790)

Title

Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735-1811)

Date

1762

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Sir Edward Walter Hamilton, 1908

Provenance

Bequeathed to 10 Downing Street by Sir Edward Walter Hamilton, 1908

GAC number

0/20/18