Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
- Artist: Sir Thomas Lawrence
- Date: 1829
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 38 in. x 30 in. (965 mm x 762 mm)
- Portrays: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a portrait of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. You can see him in a long coat and a simple hat, hands resting on his knee as he gazes directly at you. The brushwork shows fine layers of oil paint that give depth to his face – soft light hits the upper half of his forehead while darker shadows suggest a thoughtful mood.
The canvas measures about 38 by 30 inches, an intimate size that makes the sitter seem close. Lawrence’s hands are still working when he died in 1830; this unfinished state lets you catch early layers and a glimpse of how he might have finished the detail.
Painted in 1829, just after Wellington became prime minister, the work reflects the era’s politics – Catholic emancipation and electoral reform were pressing issues. The commission came from Countess Sarah Child‑Villiers, a political hostess who admired Wellington. The painting remains one of Lawrence’s final portraits, showing him as statesman rather than soldier.
See it in person
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
