Edmund Burke (1729-97) politician and author

Sir Joshua, (after) Reynolds
William A Menzies

Oil on canvas

c1910

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Government Art Collection

    This painting, showing a half length-portrait of Edmund Burke, is a copy by William A. Menzies after Joshua Reynolds’ original, currently in a private collection. Burke and Reynolds had numerous appointments and Burke’s name occurs in Reynold’s Pocket Books multiple times. The original portrait was painted in 1767-69 and a payment for 35 gns is recorded on 28 November 1767.


    Other copies of the original are in the National Portrait Gallery and in other private collections. 

    The statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke spoke regularly in the House of Commons on colonial issues. He was a strong critic of Britain's policy on America and his speech On Conciliation with America was published in 1775; 'Reflect how you are to govern a people who think they ought to be free and think they are not'. He was also a force behind the much-needed reform of the corrupt East India Company and in 1788 he opened the trial of Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal, with a speech of inspired eloquence.

  • About the artist
    Joshua Reynolds was the dominant artistic personality during the age of George III. He was born in Plympton, Devon. From 1750 to 1752 he studied the work of the Old Masters in Rome. Reynolds returned via Florence and Paris, and settled in London in 1753. In 1759 he painted a portrait of the future king, George, Prince of Wales (Royal Collection). After George’s accession the following year, Reynolds was dismayed to learn that Allan Ramsay had been made Principal Painter to the King. This marked the beginning of increasing hostility between Reynolds and the King. Nonetheless, by 1760 Reynolds had established himself as the leading portraitist. He became President of the Royal Academy in 1768 and was knighted the following year.
    William A. Menzies worked as a copyist, making numerous accurate reproductions of works by other artists. In total there are six copies by Menzies in the Government Art Collection, all of which were painted between 1910 and 1918.
  • Explore
    People
    Edmund Burke (1729/1730 - 1797)
    Places
    Subjects
    philosopher, male portrait, Irish, man, 18th century costume, coat, waistcoat, Member of Parliament
    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil, oil painting
  • Details
    Artist
    Sir Joshua, (after) Reynolds
    William A Menzies
    Title
    Edmund Burke (1729-97) politician and author
    Date
    c1910
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 76.00 cm, width: 64.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Presented by William Lockett Agnew, 1910
    GAC number
    0/30