First Previous 1 OF 34 NextLast

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

1 of 34 portraits by Arthur Pond

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation Close

Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford

by Arthur Pond
oil on canvas, 1742
25 in. x 20 in. (635 mm x 508 mm) overall
Purchased, 1990
Primary Collection
NPG 6085

Images

This portrait is housed in what is now known…

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Arthur Pond (1701-1758), Painter and engraver. Artist or producer associated with 34 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 470
  • Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 62 Read entry

    Carved and gilt pine, mitred and keyed, the corner projections planted, the heavily sanded frieze and the pendant oak leaves and acorns at the sides oil gilt but much of the rest of the frame water gilt on a plum bole. Markings on the top of the frame perhaps left by a former cresting. 3 3⁄ 8 inches wide, 4 3⁄ 8 inches at the corners.

    This portrait of Robert Walpole was painted in 1742, probably soon after his defeat and resignation as prime minister. It is not recorded in Arthur Pond's account book, which has no entries for the period November 1742 to March 1743, but an earlier payment of eight guineas is entered under Walpole's name on 28 August 1740 for a pastel portrait of his illegitimate daughter, Maria Walpole, still at Houghton, and a further £2.12s.6d for a 'Gold frame & plate glass'.1

    Pond's account book contains numerous references between 1737 and 1748 to 'architrave gold frames', a style we would call a Kent or Palladian frame with projecting 'ear' corners ornamented with shells and oak leaf and acorn pendants down each side. Most if not all of these frames were made for Pond by 'Gosset' (probably Isaac Gosset or his brother Gideon), the recipient of large payments on account from Pond in the years 1735 to 1749. The type is also found on the work of William Hoare and Francis Cotes.

    1 Louise Lippincott, 'Arthur Pond's Journal of Receipts and Expenses, 1734-1750', Walpole Society, vol.LIV, 1991, p 254. The frame cost £1.11s.6d and the glass £1.1s.

Events of 1742back to top

Current affairs

Robert Walpole resigns as Prime Minister following the scandal surrounding the alleged rigging of the Chippenham by-election. He is made 1st Earl of Orford. Carteret administration formed with Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington as Prime Minister.

Art and science

Composer George Frideric Handel's Messiah is first performed at The Great Music Hall in Dublin.
Ranelagh Gardens opens in Chelsea.
Writer Edmond Hoyle publishes the definitive rules of whist.
James Bradley succeeds Edmond Halley as Astronomer Royal.
Painter Charles Jervas' translation of Don Quixote is posthumously published.

International

War of the Austrian Succession: Treaty of Berlin, mediated by Britain, is signed by Maria Theresa of Austria and Frederick II of Prussia, ending the First Silesian War. George II acts as guarantor.
Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius proposes 100 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.