Portrait of the Duke of Wellington
Portrait of the Duke of Wellington | |
---|---|
Artist | Francisco de Goya |
Year | 1812–14 |
Medium | Oil on mahogany panel |
Dimensions | 64.3 cm × 52.4 cm (25.3 in × 20.6 in) |
Location | National Gallery, London |
The Portrait of the Duke of Wellington is a painting by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya of the British general Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, during the latter's service in the Peninsular War.[1] One of three portraits Goya painted of Wellington, it was begun in August 1812 after the subject's entry into Madrid, showing him as an earl in an all-red uniform and wearing the Peninsular Medal. The artist then modified it in 1814 to show him in full dress uniform with black gold–braided lapels and to add the Order of the Golden Fleece and Military Gold Cross with three clasps (both of which Wellington had been awarded in the interim).[2]
Description
The painting was probably made from life, at sittings in Madrid, and painted in
The face is carefully painted, but much of the painting was done quickly, with great energy, with the military orders outlined with a few brushstrokes. In some areas, such as the eyes and mouth, the brown priming remains visible to create a stronger contrast between light and dark areas of paint.
His uniform bears the insignia of several military orders. His left breast bears three stars: the British
In 1812, Goya also completed a chalk drawing of Wellington, now held by the British Museum, and a large oil-on-canvas Equestrian portrait of the Duke of Wellington , which was exhibited at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid in September 1812 and is now at Apsley House. X-ray analysis in the 1960 showed that the equestrian portrait has the head of Wellington added to a body painted previously, perhaps Manuel Godoy or Joseph Bonaparte.
Provenance
The painting was acquired by the Duke of Wellington, and came into the possession of
It had descended to
Theft
On 21 August 1961, nineteen days after it was put on display at the National Gallery, the portrait was stolen by a bus driver called
The theft entered popular culture, as it was referenced in the 1962 James Bond film Dr. No. In the film, the painting was on display in Dr. Julius No's lair, suggesting the first Bond villain had the work stolen.[4][6] The prop painted by Ken Adam was used in the film promotion and was then stolen itself.[7]
The theft was the subject of the October 2015 BBC Radio 4 drama Kempton and the Duke.[8]
The story of the theft and the following trial of Bunton was dramatised in the film The Duke, directed by Roger Michell and starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, which was released in cinemas in the UK on 25 February 2022.[9]
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Framed painting
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Goya's chalk drawing, 1812, British Museum
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Goya's Equestrian Portrait of the 1st Duke of Wellington, 1812, Apsley House
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ National Gallery catalogue entry
- ^ Kauffmann, Jenkins & Wieseman 2009, pp. 125–127
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ a b Nairne 2011
- ^ Serpell, Nick (14 November 2017). "The QC, Lady Chatterley and nude Romans". BBC News.
- ^ Forbes Magazine 2006
- ^ Dee, Johnny (17 September 2005). "Licensed to drill". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ Writer: David Spicer; Kempton Bunton: Kevin Whately; Producer: Liz Anstee (6 October 2015). "Kempton and the Duke". Radio 4 drama. BBC. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ "The Duke | Sony Pictures Classics".
- Sources
- "World's Greatest Art Heists". Forbes. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007.
- Kauffmann, C.M.; Jenkins, Susan; Wieseman, Marjorie E. (2009) [1982]. Catalogue of Paintings in the Wellington Museum, Apsley House (PDF) (Revised ed.). English Heritage in association with Paul Holberton Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903470-78-7.
- Nairne, Sandy (6 August 2011). "From the National Gallery to Dr No's lair". The Guardian.
- Equestrian Portrait of the 1st Duke of Wellington, Francisco de Goya, ArtUK
- Drawing of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Francisco de Goya, British Museum
- Apsley House Collection, English Heritage
- "Goya's Wellington: The Duke Disappears", History Today, Volume 61 Issue 8, August 2011
- "Goya works among Spain's lost art gems to be shown at British Museum", The Guardian, 18 September 2012
External links
- Media related to Portrait of the Duke of Wellington at Wikimedia Commons