John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792-1840) Governor-in-Chief of British North America and High Commissioner to Canada

Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 - 1830)
Charles Edward Wagstaff (1808 - 1850)

Mezzotint

published 11 June 1838

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Image of John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792-1840) Governor-in-Chief of British North America and High Commissioner to Canada
  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Other
    City: storage

    This print was published in 1838 within Part V of a series of ‘Engravings from the Works of Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.’ A reporter for ‘The Athenaeum’ expressed his admiration for Wagstaff’s engraving of Lambton: ‘whether for the power and intellect of the head, or the bold and simple arrangement of the drapery. The appearance of this last engraving is peculiarly well timed.’ (In the year this print was published, Lambton was appointed Governor-in-Chief of British North America and High Commissioner to Lower Canada.)

  • About the artist
    Sir Thomas Lawrence was born in Bristol; the son of a supervisor of excise. In 1773 the family moved to Wiltshire to run a coaching inn but financial difficulties led them to move again to Bath, where Lawrence first worked as a portraitist. He may have had lessons from William Hoare, before enrolling at the Royal Academy schools in 1787. Aged 20, he received a royal commission for portraits of Queen Charlotte (1789-90) and Princess Amelia (1789). At 23 he replaced Reynolds as Painter-in-Ordinary and at 25, became a Royal Academician. Despite such success, he never escaped crippling debt. In 1815 he was knighted and commissioned to paint the Waterloo Chamber series of portraits. He replaced West as President of the Royal Academy in 1820.
    Charles Edward Wagstaff was a line, mezzotint and mixed-method engraver, specialising in portraits and historical and genre subjects, engraved after works by contemporary artists. He was born in London, where he is thought to have lived and worked.
  • Explore
    People
    John George, 1st Earl of Durham Lambton (1792 - 1840)
    Places
    Subjects
    male portrait, 19th century costume, Earl, Governor General of Canada, diplomat
    Materials & Techniques
    mezzotint
  • Details
    Artist
    Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 - 1830)
    Charles Edward Wagstaff (1808 - 1850)
    Title
    John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham (1792-1840) Governor-in-Chief of British North America and High Commissioner to Canada
    Date
    published 11 June 1838
    Medium
    Mezzotint
    Dimensions
    height: 41.70 cm, width: 28.90 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from F B Daniell, December 1952
    GAC number
    1994