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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, 1829

Sir Thomas Lawrence

The Duke of Wellington (1769–1852) was hailed as the man who achieved peace in Europe after he led the campaign that defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It ended a period of French supremacy on the continent, including the occupation of the Netherlands.

This portrait, painted when he was prime minister, depicts Wellesley as a statesman. Unfortunately, painter Thomas Lawrence died and the portrait was left unfinished, increasing the emphasis on Wellesley’s imperious gaze.

National Portrait Gallery, London Purchased with support from the Art Fund (with a contribution from The Wolfson Foundation), the G and K Boyes Charitable Trust, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, the Portrait Fund, and many contributions from the public following an appeal by the National Portrait Gallery, 2017
© National Portrait Gallery, London

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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