Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

Overview
Extended Catalogue Entry

replica by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, circa 1810
29 1/2 in. x 24 1/2 in. (749 mm x 622 mm)
Purchased, 1885
Primary Collection
NPG 746

Sitterback to top

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811), Statesman. Sitter associated with 82 portraits.

Artistback to top

Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), Portrait painter, collector and President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 689 portraits, Sitter in 25 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait is a reduced copy by Sir Thomas Lawrence of an earlier portrait of Melville. The original portrait shows Melville standing in a commanding, statesmanlike pose but by the time it was finished, Melville had already been dismissed from office.

Related worksback to top

NPG D14008: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (source portrait)
NPG D8536: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (source portrait)
NPG D8535: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (source portrait)
NPG D8516: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

Smartify image discovery app
Bayly, Christopher, The Raj: India and the British 1600-1947, 1990 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 19 October 1990 - 17 March 1991), p. 125
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 426
Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 337

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1810back to top

Current affairs

Serious 'Burdett and Liberty' riots break out in London in support of radical MP Sir Francis Burdett who had been arrested for denouncing the House of Common's decision to bar journalists from some debates.
Princess Amelia dies triggering renewed bout of illness in her father, George III.

Art and science

Sir Walter Scott publishes his chivalrous, medieval ballad, The Lady of the Lake, set on Loch Katrine in Perthshire.
Kennett and Avon Trunk Canal is completed.
First Savings Bank is set up by financier Henry Duncan.

International

Madame De Stael writes De l'Allemagne which portrays Germany as a model of Romantic nationalism for emerging revolutionary nations. It was banned by Napoleon but published in London to great acclaim.
Lisbon besieged. Wellington takes shelter behind the fortified lines of the Torres Vedras and the French army are forced to retreat.

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