Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe (1786-1880) diplomat

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

George Richmond’s portrait Stratford Canning, first Viscount Stratford De Redcliffe, is dated 1853, the year after he became a Viscount. At around this time Canning supported the Sultan’s resistance to Russian attempts to enforce influence over Ottoman affairs and tried, unsuccessfully, to avert the start of the Crimean War. After resigning from his Ambassadorship, Canning returned to England in 1858, where he remained until his death in 1880.

This print was engraved as the frontispiece to volume II of S. Lane-Poole’s 'The Life of Stratford Canning' (published 1888). The print was presented to this Embassy by the daughter of the sitter, the Honourable Louisa Canning (1828-1908), in 1899. Louisa also bequeathed Richmond’s original drawing of her father, on which this print is based, to the National Portrait Gallery, London.

George Richmond was born in London and received his first training in art from his father, Thomas Richmond, a miniature portrait painter. From 1824 he studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where he was taught briefly by Henry Fuseli. He was particularly influenced by the visionary art of William Blake, joining the close circle of Blake’s followers known as ‘The Ancients’. Richmond later established a reputation as a leading portraitist and painted several notable figures, including William Wilberforce (1832) and John Ruskin (1842). In 1867, he was elected a Royal Academician. He died in London, just before turning 87.
George James Stodart was born in Camden Town; the son of portrait engraver George Stodart. His brothers, Edward William Stodart and David J. Stodart, also trained as engravers. At 22 he was living in Islington with his parents. He married Maria, a dressmaker from Hackney, in 1862 and by the time of the 1871 census had a seven year old daughter, Ellen. His second daughter, Phanuel, was born 15 years after Ellen. By 1881 Stodart had moved from Islington to the town of Edenbridge and by 1891 to the village of Appledore, both in Kent. He was aged 73 and resident in Streatham at the time of the 1911 census. Although his occupation was still given as ‘portrait engraver on steel’ he was by now ‘blind [and] paralised’. He died two years later.

People

Stratford, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe Canning (1786 - 1880)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, 19th century costume, Viscount, Privy Counsellor, Ambassador to Constantinople, diplomat

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

George Richmond (1809 - 1896)
George James Stodart (c.1838 - 1913)

Title

Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe (1786-1880) diplomat

Date

published 1888

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Presented by Louisa Canning, 1899

GAC number

15268