William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed top left: WILLIAM IV^th/EARL FITZWILLIAM/BORN MAY 30^th 1748/DIED FEB 8^th 1833.

This portraitback to top

The provenance of this portrait is uncertain but it must have originally belonged to Lord Grey judging from the inscription on Reynolds's mezzotint. A variant, with legs crossed, the dog on the other side and a sky background, was lent by the Ladies Wentworth Fitzwilliam to the 'Yorkshire Worthies' exhibition Leeds 1868 (3253). An earlier portrait at Howick Grange, attributed to Owen, shows the sitter aged about 40.

Physical descriptionback to top

Nearly whole-length seated aged about 70 in a gilt armchair upholstered in red leather; dark brown coat with brass buttons, black breeches, yellow waistcoat, white neckcloth; grey hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion; brown and white dog right with muzzle on his left knee; silver inkstand and quills on richly embroidered tablecloth left; grey stone column in left background, red curtain right. 2959 MJ painted in black on top stretcher.

Provenanceback to top

R. T. G. Chester-Master (Abbey Estate and Baunton Trust); Christie's 22 March 1974 (102) bought Leggatt for the NPG.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA 1817.

Reproductionsback to top

Mezzotint by S. W. Reynolds 1818 lettered: '... From the Original Picture in the Possesion [sic] of Earl Grey ...' (Alfred Whitman, S. W. Reynolds, 1903, 90); stipple by T. Wright (painter's name as E. T. Artis) 1820; stipple by Hicks for Jerdan's National Portrait Gallery, 1829.


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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