Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford

Inscriptionback to top

Verses inscribed on a paper fixed to back of frame beginning: 'With anxious care and deep research to scan/That first of Sciences, the Good of Man …’ and signed R.F.

This portraitback to top

Lane's drawing, made preparatory to a miniature, shows Bedford aged 30 to 35 and is related to Hoppner's portrait of 1796-7 which it resembles closely in style and pose. Lane, previously engaged in gem engraving, began exhibiting as a miniaturist in 1798, the approximate date of this drawing, though no miniature of the 5th Duke by him is recorded in the NPG archive.

Physical descriptionback to top

Head and shoulders with black hair, blue eyes, cheeks and lips touched with pink, nose heightened with white chalk, high white collar, shoulders sketched in black chalk.

Provenanceback to top

Given by Ernest E. Leggatt 1918.

Reproductionsback to top

Large stipple vignette by Picart 2 June 1806, dedicated to the 6th Duke.


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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