FDA-P.18-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.18-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Hon. Richard Wellesley
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Description
Half-length portrait of a young man, showing the sitter wearing a neck tie and a brown coat with a black velvet collar, and holding a glove
Comments
'Born 1787, son of Richard, Marquess Wellesley. Entered Eton, 1800; 6th Form, 1805. Contributor to "Musae Etonenses." Christ Church, Oxford. M.P. Died 1831.'
[Source: 'Eton Leaving Portraits' Tate exhibition catalogue, 1951, p.22]
'Dear Wellesley, /
Accept my best Thanks for a very faithful likeness / of yourself. What Lawrence has done to it since I saw it, I know / not, but he has certainly continued to improve the Portrait considerably. / You do not condescend to cast a Glance upon me in my present Win- / ter Quarters, but when the important Period arrives, at which I shall / take my annual flight towards the Window, I shall be honoured / with your regards from your exalted Station over my Fire Place. Though / I was perfectly aware, that you could not without great Inconvenience / contrive to sit before, yet I felt that the silent progress of every / year would make the copy, however faithful, less like the Wellesley of/ my own House, & Pupil Room, and therefore rejoice most truly, that / you have reached me, while I can yet perfectly recognise the identi- / cal Countenance & air of your original Self. When I thank you for your / patient Endurance of the prim[sic] Horrors of repeated Sittings, I do not / forget that my warmest Thanks are also due to Marquis Wellesley, & / beg of you to say in my Name, that of the many which I have / received of him, none has been more truly acceptable than this last Proof of his Kindness. I will not press you to look in upon us in[sic] on / your Way to Oxford, as I know that you will, if you can. Remem - / ber with every good Wish to the tall Orientatlist, & believe me / to be /
Dear Wellesley /
ever yours /
most affectionately /
Goodall /
Eton Jan.y 29th 1808./
Mrs Goodall who is sitting at my elbow scolds me for omitting her / best Regards to you, & Respects to Marchioness Wellesley.'
[Source: Letter from Goodall to Richard Wellesley; Eton College Archives COLL / P1 / 22 / 1]
The sitter was at Eton from 1801 to 1805.
[Source: 'Eton Leaving Portraits' Tate exhibition catalogue, 1951, p.22]
'Dear Wellesley, /
Accept my best Thanks for a very faithful likeness / of yourself. What Lawrence has done to it since I saw it, I know / not, but he has certainly continued to improve the Portrait considerably. / You do not condescend to cast a Glance upon me in my present Win- / ter Quarters, but when the important Period arrives, at which I shall / take my annual flight towards the Window, I shall be honoured / with your regards from your exalted Station over my Fire Place. Though / I was perfectly aware, that you could not without great Inconvenience / contrive to sit before, yet I felt that the silent progress of every / year would make the copy, however faithful, less like the Wellesley of/ my own House, & Pupil Room, and therefore rejoice most truly, that / you have reached me, while I can yet perfectly recognise the identi- / cal Countenance & air of your original Self. When I thank you for your / patient Endurance of the prim[sic] Horrors of repeated Sittings, I do not / forget that my warmest Thanks are also due to Marquis Wellesley, & / beg of you to say in my Name, that of the many which I have / received of him, none has been more truly acceptable than this last Proof of his Kindness. I will not press you to look in upon us in[sic] on / your Way to Oxford, as I know that you will, if you can. Remem - / ber with every good Wish to the tall Orientatlist, & believe me / to be /
Dear Wellesley /
ever yours /
most affectionately /
Goodall /
Eton Jan.y 29th 1808./
Mrs Goodall who is sitting at my elbow scolds me for omitting her / best Regards to you, & Respects to Marchioness Wellesley.'
[Source: Letter from Goodall to Richard Wellesley; Eton College Archives COLL / P1 / 22 / 1]
The sitter was at Eton from 1801 to 1805.
Description
Content (person)
Content (note)
Politician Richard Wellesley (1787-1831) was the first illegitimate son of, politician and Governor-General of Bengal, Richard Colley Wellesley, Marquess Wellesley (1760-1842) and Hyacinthe Gabrielle (1760?–1816).
Dimensions
height (sight size): 900mm
width (sight size): 700mm
width (sight size): 700mm
Inscription
I.D. label on frame
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Carved gilt Carlo Maratta frame
Production
Person
Lawrence, Thomas (Sir), 1769 - 1830 (Artist)
Date
1807-08
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Commissioned by the sitter or his family; by whom presented to the Head Master at Eton College in c.1808
Exhibited: 'Eton Leaving Portraits', Tate Gallery, London, April to May 1951, catalogue number 16; 'Leaving Portraits from Eton College', Dulwich Picture Gallery, 18 July to 20 October 1991, catalogue number 28
Exhibited: 'Eton Leaving Portraits', Tate Gallery, London, April to May 1951, catalogue number 16; 'Leaving Portraits from Eton College', Dulwich Picture Gallery, 18 July to 20 October 1991, catalogue number 28
References
• Cust, L., Eton College Portraits, 1910 (p.34, catalogue number 88, Plate XXXIV)
• Armstrong, Sir. W., Lawrence, Methuen, 1913 (p.168)
• Garlick, K., Sir Thomas Lawrence: a complete catalogue of the oil paintings, Phaidon, 1989 (p.88, catalogue number 803)
• Armstrong, Sir. W., Lawrence, Methuen, 1913 (p.168)
• Garlick, K., Sir Thomas Lawrence: a complete catalogue of the oil paintings, Phaidon, 1989 (p.88, catalogue number 803)
