Philip Metcalfe

1 portrait

Philip Metcalfe, by Pompeo Batoni, circa 1766-1767 -NPG 2001 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue

Philip Metcalfe

by Pompeo Batoni
circa 1766-1767
28 1/4 in. x 23 1/2 in. (718 mm x 597 mm)
NPG 2001

Inscriptionback to top

Ink inscription on the verso of the lining canvas (and presumably copied from the original canvas): Philip Metcalf. FRS - FSA - MP./by J. Reynolds: P. Battoni-Battoni

This portraitback to top

NPG 2001 is the only evidence for Metcalfe’s visit to Rome, but the identity, based upon the provenance and inscription appears secure. The proposed date is that given on stylistic grounds by Clark in 1985.

Referenceback to top

Clark 1985
A. M. Clark, ed. E. P. Bowron, Pompeo Batoni, 1985, no.306.

Physical descriptionback to top

Blue-grey eyes, a black hair-ribbon; wearing a bright red coat with gold facings and a red waistcoat, his black hat in his hand; a view of the Colosseum in the background.

Provenanceback to top

Henry Metcalfe, sold Christie’s, 15 June 1850, lot 46 (as Reynolds), bought Metcalfe; by descent within the Metcalfe family at Hawstead House,1 to Col. T. G. Booth; his widow Mrs Frances Booth (née Metcalfe), by whom presented 1923.

1 E. Farrer, Portraits in Suffolk Houses (West), 1908, p 169, no.24.

Exhibitionsback to top

Beningbrough 1982-.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, National Portrait Gallery, 2004, 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.

View all known portraits for Philip Metcalfe