The Coalition Ministry, 1854
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- Extended Catalogue Entry
The Coalition Ministry, 1854
by Sir John Gilbert
pencil, pen and ink and wash, 1855
17 1/2 in. x 27 in. (445 mm x 686 mm)
Purchased, 1898
Primary Collection
NPG 1125
Artistback to top
- Sir John Gilbert (1817-1897), Painter and illustrator. Artist associated with 9 portraits, Sitter associated with 16 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860), Prime Minister. Sitter in 50 portraits.
- George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1823-1900), Politician, Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for India and writer on science, religion, and politics. Sitter in 31 portraits.
- George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (1800-1870), Diplomat and politician; Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Sitter in 16 portraits.
- Robert Monsey Rolfe, Baron Cranworth (1790-1868), Judge. Sitter in 12 portraits.
- William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Prime Minister and writer. Sitter associated with 315 portraits.
- Sir James Robert George Graham, 2nd Bt (1792-1861), Statesman; First Lord of the Admiralty. Sitter in 56 portraits.
- Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (1815-1891), Politician, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and leader of the Liberal party. Sitter associated with 50 portraits.
- Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt (1799-1882), Home Secretary. Sitter in 14 portraits.
- Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax (1800-1885), Whig politician; Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sitter in 28 portraits.
- Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea (1810-1861), War Secretary. Sitter in 11 portraits.
- Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Whig politician; Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord President of the Council. Sitter associated with 76 portraits.
- Sir William Molesworth, 8th Bt (1810-1855), Politician, First Commissioner of Works and Colonial Secretary. Sitter in 20 portraits.
- Henry Pelham Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (1811-1864), Politician; MP for several constituencies. Sitter in 17 portraits.
- Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865), Prime Minister. Sitter in 145 portraits.
- John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (1792-1878), Prime Minister and writer. Sitter in 244 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The coalition ministry, under the leadership of the Earl of Aberdeen, came to power in 1854. This engraving shows Aberdeen's cabinet deciding upon the expedition to the Crimea in the early months of that year. Palmerston, on the right, is seen pointing at the town of Balaclava on a map held open by the Duke of Newcastle, while Gladstone, on the left, holds a letter on his knee.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 550
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 711
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1855back to top
Current affairs
Palmerston becomes Prime Minister, leading a coalition government after Lord Aberdeen loses a vote of confidence over his handling of the Crimean war. Known by the nickname 'Lord Pumicestone' for his abrasive style, Palmerston is the oldest prime minister in history to take up the post for the first time at the age of 71.Stamp duty on newspapers is abolished, creating the mass media market in the UK as newspapers became more widely and cheaply available.
Art and science
Following a trip through the Holy Land to the Dead Sea, William Holman Hunt begins his symbolically-laden painting The Scapegoat.John Millais marries Effie Gray, previously John Ruskin's wife, after their marriage was annulled that year.
The social theorist and sociologist Herbert Spencer and philosopher G. H. Lewes, publishes Principles of Pyschology, exploring a physiological basis to psychology.
International
The Fall of Sebastopol in the Crimean war, as Russia retreats, and the exhaustion of the Turkish alliance means the war nears its end. Despite being rebuffed by Florence Nightingale's team of nurses, Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole travels to the Crimea, opening a 'British Hotel' for sick and injured soldiers. She gains significant attention and praise for her nursing work.Tell us more back to top
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