William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated lower left: HE 1809.

This portraitback to top

Painted after he had left the Ministry of All the Talents and during his retirement at Eden Farm, Beckenham. Edridge has caught the shifty air noticed by Wraxall - 'something which did not convey the impression of plain dealing or inspire confidence' (Complete Peerage).

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length seated to left, white hair, dark eyes (left eye slightly larger), pale face; dark coat, white waistcoat, white shirt-frill; no inscription on back.

Provenanceback to top

John Palmer, sold Christie's 27 March 1861 (88) bought Earl of Stanhope (then Chairman of NPG Trustees) and given by him in 1861.

Exhibitionsback to top

'The Dye is Now Cast', Washington NPG 1975-6 (207), reproduced page 264.

Reproductionsback to top

Lithograph vignette by Charles Picart, published Cadell & Davies 24 January 1810 in British Gallery of Contemporary Portraits, 1822, I, page 26.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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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