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William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry

7 of 151 portraits by John Opie

William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry, by John Opie, 1785-1790 -NPG 4849 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Regency Portraits Catalogue

William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry

attributed to John Opie
1785-1790
30 1/8 in. x 24 7/8 in. (765 mm x 632 mm)
NPG 4849

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in red paint on back of relined canvas: William 4th Duke of Queensbury [sic]/1724-1810, and in black paint: EW (possibly restorer's initials).

This portraitback to top

The attribution to Opie, not too convincing, appears to originate with Christie's sale catalogue 4 July 1930 (104). There is no earlier record of the portrait in the NPG archive.

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length to left aged 60-5, dark coat, white neckcloth and cravat, powdered hair in queue, dark eyes, sly expression; left hand on book, reddish-brown background.

Provenanceback to top

Christie's (various properties) 4 July 1930 (104) as by J. Opie RA, bought Peel; Savoy Art & Auction Galleries, New York, 17 February 1967 (7) as by Ramsay; given by F. K. Huber 1971.


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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