William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford

Sitterback to top

• William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (1616-1700), Soldier and Privy Counsellor. Sitter associated with 15 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Edward Lutterell or Luttrell (died 1737), Mezzotinter and pastel draughtsman. Artist associated with 64 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Seventeenth-century artists such as Edward Lutterell were already experimenting with pastels and coloured chalks before these materials became widely popular. Lutterell was greatly admired for perfecting the art of drawing on the unusual support of copper. He prepared the surface with a fine-toothed mezzotint rocker so it would hold the chalk. This portrait, on copper, depicts the Duke of Bedford at the age of 82, wearing the blue sash of a Knight of the Order of the Garter. The star of the Order is also just visible in the portrait. More detailed information from a catalogue entry by John Ingamells, one of a limited number of entries drafted in 2010 for the incomplete catalogue, Early Stuart Portraits 1625-1685, work on which will be resumed once funding is available.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D20073: William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (source portrait)
• NPG D11569: William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 25
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 44

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• The Art of Drawing: Portraits from the Collection, 1670-1780 (19 October 2012 - 19 May 2013)