John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer

This portraitback to top

Turner's drawing was probably ad vivum and done expressly for his mezzotint. It bears no relation to his mezzotint of Phillips's 1819 portrait at Althorp, published 14 June 1831. As Leader of the House of Commons, Spencer (as Lord Althorp) played an important part in the Reform Bill and some reference to this may be intended in the papers and books on the table beside him.

Physical descriptionback to top

Three-quarter-length standing, head to left, right arm on table with papers, books and quill; black frock-coat and waistcoat, grey trousers.

Provenanceback to top

Charles Turner's daughter Mrs Wilmot and sale of her effects by J. & A. Bray, Hastings c.1901-2; J. Adams, dealer of Brighton; Frederick Simpson, dealer of Brighton, and bought from him 1902.

Exhibitionsback to top

(Probably of the mezzotint)
RA 1833 (485).

Reproductionsback to top

Mezzotint by Charles Turner published 17 December 1832; the NPG impression is inscribed bottom left in italics: Printed on Dodd's English Paper (for this unusual paper see Alfred Whitman, Charles Turner, 1907, II and p 18). An octagonal stipple by J. Brown from a drawing by J. Stewart derives from Turner's mezzotint without acknowledgement; it shows him wearing the Star of the Garter to which he was not entitled.


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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