Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed in ink on reverse of frame: Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle/Painted by A W Devis 1809 a print of this pub/lished by R Dunk/arton 24 June 1809 ... Strand, London.

This portraitback to top

The portrait was painted at the climax of Wardle's career when, as MP for Okehampton, he exposed the scandals arising from the association of the Duke of York with Mary Anne Clarke, mainly relating to the sale of army commissions. The Duke was compelled to resign as Commander-in-Chief and Wardle was awarded the freedom of the City of London 6 April 1809. In Dunkarton's mezzotint the papers under his right hand are lettered Magna Charta, Bill of Rights, and in his left hand Charges (or Changes). Bisset's medal, Turnerelli's bust, and a variety of popular prints appeared at about the same time. Devis's portrait is used in a caricature of Wardle and Mrs Clarke in the Satirist, 'The Welsh Rat-Catcher' (British Museum Satire 11351).
The portrait was acquired with the attribution to Harlow and bore a metal sheet with that name nailed to the frame. Devis's name is secured however by Dunkarton's mezzotint.

Physical descriptionback to top

Three-quarter-length standing to left in black tail-coat with brass buttons, yellow waistcoat, white collar, neckcloth and shirt-frill, grey trousers; reddish-brown hair, light brown eyes, pink complexion; table to left with Turkey cloth, papers (unmarked) and books; landscape to left behind stone pillar and brown curtain.

Provenanceback to top

Dr and Mrs Samuel Day-Goss and given by them in 1873 to their cousin Love Jones-Parry MP of Madryn; Hans Busk collection; J. A. Tooth Gallery and bought from there 1962.

Reproductionsback to top

Mezzotint by R. Dunkarton published 24 June 1809 (John Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotint Portraits, 39).


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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