Charles, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805) General

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

In this full-length depiction the first Marquess Cornwallis is shown in uniform, leaning on a cane. He stands on a battlefield and, in the distance, soldiers march in formation.

There are three known Daniel Gardner portraits of Cornwallis: a full-length gouache portrait was at Gifford’s Hall, in Suffolk, in 1967; a three-quarter-length version was sold through Christie's, London, in 2000 and a full-length version in pencil, pastel and bodycolour, dated 1782, was sold through Christie’s, London, in 2002. It is the later version which this print, engraved by John Jones, is based on. Another portrait of Cornwallis by Thomas Gainsborough is in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Portrait painter Daniel Gardner was born in Kendal, Westmorland; the son of a master baker. He was taught by painter George Romney and followed Romney to London in 1767/8. He enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools in 1770 and, in 1773, had a drawing accepted for exhibition at the Academy, the only time he ever exhibited. He became a studio assistant to Sir Joshua Reynolds. As well as oil paintings, he also produced pastel group portraits. Gardner accumulated land and property in and around Kendall until his death. He maintained a lasting friendship with landscape painter John Constable, whose portrait he painted in 1796. Late in life he gave up painting to concentrate on money-making ventures. He died in London of a liver complaint, aged 55.

People

Charles, 1st Marquess Cornwallis Cornwallis (1738 - 1805)

Places

Subjects

horseback, male portrait, horse, 18th century costume, military uniform, boots, breeches, Marquess, sword, officer (army), soldier, general, unnamed land battle

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Daniel Gardner (c.1750 - 1805)
John Jones (c.1755 - 1796)

Title

Charles, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805) General

Date

published 6 March 1793

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Purchased from F B Daniell & Son, January 1950

GAC number

1089