Thomas Gage

Inscriptionback to top

The back of the gold case is engraved: Honble. Lieut. General/Thomas Gage/by/J. Meyer.R.A.

This portraitback to top

Probably painted after Gage’s return from America late in 1775, [1] but it might also date from his period of leave in England between April 1773 and April 1774. [2] Stylistically NPG 4070 compares closely with the miniature of William Chambers (NPG 4040) and of an unknown man dated 1775. [3]

Footnotesback to top

1) ‘Will you not smile at Gage being recalled and made Generalissimo?’ (Walpole, 27 October 1775; Wal. Corr., XLI, p 313).
2) For these dates see C. E. Carter ed., Corr. of General Thomas Gage 1763-75, II, 1933, p 157.
3) Illus. D. Foskett, A Dictionary of British Miniature Painters, 1972, II, pl.232, no.583.

Referenceback to top

Walker 1998
R. J. B. Walker, Miniatures in the National Portrait Gallery, 1998.

Physical descriptionback to top

Clear grey eyes, white powdered hair, wearing a general’s uniform, red coat with dark blue facings and gold buttons, a gold epaulette on his right shoulder.

Provenanceback to top

Sabin, London, c.1935, bought E. Peter Jones, Chester, by whom presented 1958.

Exhibitionsback to top

1776, National Maritime Museum, 1976 (54).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

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