Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated lower right in red paint: Mary M. Pearson 1825 (not 1823 as in previous catalogues).

This portraitback to top

The portrait was painted in 1825 at the end of Combermere's term of office as Commander in Chief in Ireland and before his departure for India in June 1825, Mrs Pearson's address being 4 Hart Street, Bloomsbury. It remained with the family till 1872 when Lady Combermere offered the Trustees a choice of two portraits – one with J. P. Knight in the uniform of the Life Guards which he commanded for 33 years, holding the Gold Stick, the other by Mrs Charles Pearson. The Trustees chose the Pearson as representing the hero in the prime of his life (letters in NPG archive).

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length in uniform as General Officer of Light Dragoons, Ribbon and Star of GCB, Stars of Portuguese Tower and Sword and Guelphic Order of Hanover, Peninsula Cross with Salamanca clasp; brown eyes, brown curly hair, dark complexion, dark whiskers, no moustache; stormy sky and mountain background.

Provenanceback to top

Family collection and given by the Viscountess Combermere (his widow) in 1872.

Exhibitionsback to top

SBA 1827 (271) as Commander in Chief of the British Forces in India.

Reproductionsback to top

Stipple by Jenkins, plate to Jerdan's National Portrait Gallery, 1833.


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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