Portrait of the Duke of Wellington (Goya)
Encyclopedia
The Portrait of the Duke of Wellington is a painting by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya
of the British general Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
during the latter's service in the Peninsular War
. One of three portraits Goya painted of Wellington, it was begun in 1812, after the subject's entry into Madrid
, showing him as an earl in red uniform and wearing the Peninsular Medal
. The artist then modified it in 1814 to show him in full dress black uniform with gold braid 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).
It was auctioned in 1961, with the New York collector Charles Wrightsman bidding £140,000. The Wolfson Foundation
offered £100,000 and the government added a special Treasury grant of £40,000, matching Wrightsman's bid and obtaining the painting for the National Gallery
in London, where it was first put on display on 2 August 1961. It was stolen nineteen days later, on 21 August 1961. It was later returned and Kempton Bunton
confessed to the crime in July 1965.
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown, and through his works was both a commentator on and chronicler of his era...
of the British general Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
during the latter's service in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. One of three portraits Goya painted of Wellington, it was begun in 1812, after the subject's entry into Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, showing him as an earl in red uniform and wearing the Peninsular Medal
Army Gold Medal
The Army Gold Medal , also known as the Peninsular Gold Medal, with an accompanying Gold Cross, was a British campaign medal awarded in recognition of field and general officers' successful commands in recent campaigns, predominately the Peninsular War...
. The artist then modified it in 1814 to show him in full dress black uniform with gold braid and to add the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
and Military Gold Cross
Army Gold Medal
The Army Gold Medal , also known as the Peninsular Gold Medal, with an accompanying Gold Cross, was a British campaign medal awarded in recognition of field and general officers' successful commands in recent campaigns, predominately the Peninsular War...
with three clasps (both of which Wellington had been awarded in the interim).
It was auctioned in 1961, with the New York collector Charles Wrightsman bidding £140,000. The Wolfson Foundation
Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation is a charity that awards grants to support excellence in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts & humanities.- Overview :...
offered £100,000 and the government added a special Treasury grant of £40,000, matching Wrightsman's bid and obtaining the painting for the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
in London, where it was first put on display on 2 August 1961. It was stolen nineteen days later, on 21 August 1961. It was later returned and Kempton Bunton
Kempton Bunton
Kempton Bunton was a disabled British pensioner who apparently stole Francisco Goya's painting Portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London in 1961. -The motive:...
confessed to the crime in July 1965.