Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745)

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Downing Street

Jean Baptiste van Loo was born in Aix-en-Provence to a family of Flemish painters. He worked in the south of France until 1714, when he travelled to northern Italy and Rome, and settled in Paris in 1720. While in Paris, he established himself as a portrait painter in the circle of the Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, and also painted a portrait of Louis XV. In 1731, he became a member of the Académie Royale. In 1737, van Loo moved to England, where he was patronised by Prime Minister Robert Walpole. In 1742, after a year’s ill-health, van Loo returned to Aix and his later life was divided between Paris and Aix. Today, his works are in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London; the Louvre, Paris; and the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
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

Robert, 1st Earl of Orford Walpole (1676 - 1745)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, 18th century costume, ceremonial costume, chancellor's robe, coat, Chancellor's Purse, Earl, Prime Minister, column, table (as Subject), state interior

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Jean Baptiste van Loo (1684 - 1745)
James Watson (c.1740 - 1790)

Title

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745)

Date

1 January 1788

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Bequeathed by Sir Edward Walter Hamilton, 1908

Provenance

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

GAC number

0/20/9