Leopold I, King of the Belgians

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Leopold I, King of the Belgians

by Thomas Heaphy
watercolour, 1816
23 5/8 in. x 18 7/8 in. (601 mm x 480 mm)
Purchased, 1921
Primary Collection
NPG 1914(28)

Sitterback to top

  • Leopold I, King of the Belgians (1790-1865), Reigned 1831-65; husband of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales; uncle of Queen Victoria. Sitter in 25 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Thomas Heaphy (1775-1835), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 47 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In this partner piece to that of Princess Charlotte, Thomas Heaphy, who had previously travelled to the Peninsula to depict members of Wellington's army, prepared a preliminary study of Prince Leopold as the dashing cavalry officer.

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1816back to top

Current affairs

Marriage of Princess Charlotte to Leopold I.
Income Tax abolished.
Unsuccessful Spa Fields Riot led by the ultra-radical Arthur Thistlewood which aimed to attack the Tower of London and the Bank of England and set up a ruling 'Committee of Public Safety' following the French model.

Art and science

Jane Austen publishes Emma.
Leeds and Liverpool Canal completed.

International

British Government buys the Elgin Marbles, taken from the Acropolis in Athens by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, and brought to England between 1803 and 1812. Their acquisition prompts support from Thomas Lawrence and Benjamin Robert Haydon and condemnation from Lord Byron.
Slave rebellion fails in Barbados; four hundred slaves are executed.

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