Core Record |
| Title |
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley KG GCB, 1st Duke of Wellington |
| Collection |
National Army Museum, London |
| Artist |
Ströhling, Eduard (German painter, 1768 - after 1826) |
| Date Earliest |
about 1820 |
| Date Latest |
about 1820 |
| Signed |
yes |
| Description |
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley KG GCB (1769-1852), 1st Duke of Wellington was born in Ireland, educated at Eton College and then at French military school at Angers. He had a distinguished army career, defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. It is suggested by the inscription that this portrait was painted from life. Under his cloak can just be seen the blue uniform coatee which might indicate Wellington's position as Master General of the Ordnance, a post he held from 1818. Around his neck is the Order of the Golden Fleece. Stroehling, born in Dusseldorf, began his artistic career under Catherine the Great in Russia. He settled in London in the late 1790s, where he worked as a portraitist in the Dutch tradition. |
| Current Accession Number |
NAM. 1965-01-1 |
| Inscription |
front ur 'Stroehling Pinx'; front ul 'Arthur Duke of Wellington/ in the Cloak that he wore at/ Waterloo and sit for it Himself/ for Jane Countess of Harrington' |
| Subject |
portrait (Wellesley, Arthur); military and war |
| Measurements |
90.5 x 71 cm (estimate) |
| Material |
oil on canvas |
| Acquisition Details |
Purchased from the Parker Gallery with a grant from the National Art-Collections Fund and the Duke of Wellington 1965. |
| Provenance |
Earl of Harrington (?). |
| Publications |
Guy, A., (ed.), The Road to Waterloo, London, 1990, pp.192-3, ill.; Hubbert, C., Wellington, a Personal History, p. 331. |
| Notes |
Wellington is known to have sat for portraits by 'John Lilley', Sir Thomas Lawrence, Sir Edwin Landseer and others. There is a copy of this work in the Wellington Collection, Stratfield Saye (Witt Library Mount). |
| Rights Owner |
Courtesy of the Council, National Army Museum |
| Author |
Dr Madeleine Korn |
