Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury

Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury, by Michele Gordigiani,  -NPG 1941 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury

by Michele Gordigiani
24 3/8 in. x 19 5/8 in. (619 mm x 499 mm) overall
NPG 1941

This portraitback to top

A second very similar portrait of Westbury by the same artist was acquired by the Privy Council Office from the same source; it shows the sitter three-quarter face, but in the same costume, and was obviously executed at the same date. No details concerning the history of the portraits was offered by the vendor, who was not even certain of their identity. Comparison with other portraits of Westbury is, however, conclusive. They were probably executed sometime after 1865 in Italy. Westbury had a villa there where he spent some of his last years. The canvas of the NPG portrait was, however, supplied by W. Eatwell of Baker Street.

Referenceback to top

The Times, 31 May 1922.

Physical descriptionback to top

The portrait is partially unfinished. Ruddy complexion, bluish-green eyes, grey hair. Dressed in a white neck-tie, shirt, and waistcoat. Dark coat. Background greenish-brown.

Provenanceback to top

The artist, purchased from his son, Edouardo Gordigiani, 1922.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, 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 Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury