Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue
John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton (1731-1783), Solicitor-General
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
c.1772
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, see NPG 102.
1775
Anon. engraving, bust length in gown and bands, right hand raised.
1778
Drawn and engraved by Robert Stewart, bust-length oval profile.
Silhouette sent by Shelburne (Lord Lansdowne) to the Abbé Morellet, with others of himself, Col. Barré and Townsend (Lettres de Morellet, ed. D. Medlin & J-C. David, I, 1992, pp 387, 425).
1780
Anon. engraving, profile bust in wig and bands.
1781
Drawing by John Downman, half-length profile to left. Sotheby’s, 16 March 1984, lot 69. A crayon drawing of Ashburton, ‘an excellent likeness ... by an unknown artist [bearing] the initials J. D. and the date 1780’, belonged to ‘a lady of Ashburton’ in 1876 (Dymond 1876, p 111).
1782
Drawing by John Downman, similar to his 1781 drawing but in reverse. British Museum (1967.10.14.185. With an inscription by the artist, saying that it was borrowed by Reynolds after Ashburton’s death in order to complete his portrait (G. C. Williamson, John Downman, 1907, pp xvi-xvii).
Etching by J. Bretherton, bust-length, in gown and bands.
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length in chancellor’s robes. Untraced, 5th Baron Ashburton 1899 (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.540). Engraved F. Bartolozzi 1790; W. Bond 1809. A copy with Bearne’s, Torquay, 1994. Probably similar to the portrait painted for the Corporation of Bristol, requested in December 1782, delivered in 1784, and destroyed by fire 1831 (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.541).
Posthumous
1786-87
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length seated in chancellor’s robes, with his wife, Elizabeth Vowler. Tate Gallery (N 6244; D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.542). His portrait derived from the 1782 sittings, his wife’s portrait added after his death.
1787-88
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length seated in chancellor’s robes, with Col. Barré and Lord Lansdowne. Barings Investment Bank (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.543). Engraved J. Ward; G. F. Storm 1847. His portrait derived from the 1782 sittings.
1795
Miniature by George Chinnery, exhibited RA 1795 (508, the late Lord Ashburton).
Doubtful Portrait
Painting attributed to Reynolds, sold Sotheby’s, 23 November 1966, lot 49.
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.
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, see NPG 102.
1775
Anon. engraving, bust length in gown and bands, right hand raised.
1778
Drawn and engraved by Robert Stewart, bust-length oval profile.
Silhouette sent by Shelburne (Lord Lansdowne) to the Abbé Morellet, with others of himself, Col. Barré and Townsend (Lettres de Morellet, ed. D. Medlin & J-C. David, I, 1992, pp 387, 425).
1780
Anon. engraving, profile bust in wig and bands.
1781
Drawing by John Downman, half-length profile to left. Sotheby’s, 16 March 1984, lot 69. A crayon drawing of Ashburton, ‘an excellent likeness ... by an unknown artist [bearing] the initials J. D. and the date 1780’, belonged to ‘a lady of Ashburton’ in 1876 (Dymond 1876, p 111).
1782
Drawing by John Downman, similar to his 1781 drawing but in reverse. British Museum (1967.10.14.185. With an inscription by the artist, saying that it was borrowed by Reynolds after Ashburton’s death in order to complete his portrait (G. C. Williamson, John Downman, 1907, pp xvi-xvii).
Etching by J. Bretherton, bust-length, in gown and bands.
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length in chancellor’s robes. Untraced, 5th Baron Ashburton 1899 (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.540). Engraved F. Bartolozzi 1790; W. Bond 1809. A copy with Bearne’s, Torquay, 1994. Probably similar to the portrait painted for the Corporation of Bristol, requested in December 1782, delivered in 1784, and destroyed by fire 1831 (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.541).
Posthumous
1786-87
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length seated in chancellor’s robes, with his wife, Elizabeth Vowler. Tate Gallery (N 6244; D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.542). His portrait derived from the 1782 sittings, his wife’s portrait added after his death.
1787-88
Painting by Joshua Reynolds, three-quarter length seated in chancellor’s robes, with Col. Barré and Lord Lansdowne. Barings Investment Bank (D. Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds, 2000, I, no.543). Engraved J. Ward; G. F. Storm 1847. His portrait derived from the 1782 sittings.
1795
Miniature by George Chinnery, exhibited RA 1795 (508, the late Lord Ashburton).
Doubtful Portrait
Painting attributed to Reynolds, sold Sotheby’s, 23 November 1966, lot 49.
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.