Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated (bottom right): H. Alken/1845

This portraitback to top

The early history of this picture is unknown. The evidence that it represents Beaufort is traditional, but there is no reason to doubt it, as it agrees reasonably with other known portraits. Alken was a well-known sporting artist, patronized by Beaufort; he produced several plates of the Beaufort Hunt.

Physical descriptionback to top

Ruddy complexion, dark eyes, brown hair. Dressed in dark stock, white shirt, dark brown suit, red waistcoat, black shoes and top-hat, and red jewelled stock-pin. Building and pavement light grey. Flowers at right dark green with splashes of red. Background landscape light green and brown, with pale blue, pink, and grey sky.

Provenanceback to top

F. E. Lepper, purchased from him, 1936.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, 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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