8 OF 47

George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen

8 of 47 portraits of George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen

by John Partridge
oil on canvas, circa 1847
45 1/2 in. x 57 in. (1156 mm x 1448 mm)
Given by Henry Willett, 1886
Primary Collection
NPG 750

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Sitterback to top

George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860), Prime Minister. Sitter associated with 47 portraits.

Artistback to top

John Partridge (1789-1872), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 42 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Like Partridge's portraits of Melbourne, Macaulay and Palmerston, this portrait is closely related to Partridge's group portrait The Fine Arts Commissioners and was presumably painted as a finished study for it. Aberdeen, a politician and former Foreign Secretary, is shown with a sketch of the Acropolis in his hands, a Greek vase on the table and a model of the Parthenon behind, expressions of his antiquarian interests. He was president of the Society of Antiquaries from 1812 to 1846 and the author of a book on Greek architecture.