David Boyle, Lord Shewalton (1772-1853) Lord Justice-General

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

John Watson Gordon, portrait painter, was born in Edinburgh, the son of a Captain in the Royal Artillery. He studied under John Graham, George Watson and Sir Henry Raeburn and added ‘Gordon’ to his surname to distinguish himself from his cousin and uncle (both artists). Gordon was influenced by the work of Raeburn and took over as the leading Scottish portrait painter after Raeburn’s death. In 1826, he became a founding member of the Royal Scottish Academy and, in 1851, a Member of the Royal Academy, London. Many of his sitters were Scottish, but English clients also travelled to Edinburgh to sit for him. He became President of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1850 and was knighted and appointed Royal Limner for Scotland soon afterwards.
Engraver Thomas Goff Lupton was born in Clerkenwell, London; the son of a goldsmith. He trained under engraver George Clint. Lupton produced the first soft steel plates, able to print considerably more copies than copper plates, for which he was awarded the ‘Isis medal’ of the Society of Arts in 1822. He was employed by J. M. W. Turner on ‘Liber Studiorum’ (1807-19) and in 1825 six of his plates after Turner were published as ‘Views of the Ports of England’; reissued with six more as ‘The Harbours of England’ (1856 ; text by Ruskin). Lupton engraved numerous portraits after artists including Lawrence and Reynolds, and also exhibited pastels at the Royal Academy. He was elected President of the Artists' Annuity Fund (1836). He died aged 81.

People

David, Lord Shewalton Boyle (1772 - 1853)

Places

Subjects

book, male portrait, 19th century costume, coat, stockings, waistcoat, breeches, lace jabot, shoe, Lord Justice General for Scotland, armchair, carpet, table (as Subject)

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Sir John Watson Gordon (1788 - 1864)
Thomas Goff Lupton (1791 - 1873)

Title

David Boyle, Lord Shewalton (1772-1853) Lord Justice-General

Date

published 1 May 1849

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Purchased from Mrs Dorothy Lane, February 1958

GAC number

3996