Edward Smith Stanley (1752–1834), Twelfth Earl of Derby, with His First Wife (Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, 1753–1797) and Their Son (Edward Smith Stanley, 1775–1851)

Angelica Kauffmann executed this family portrait in 1776, utilizing oil paint on canvas. The work depicts Edward Smith Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby, alongside his first wife, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, and their infant son, the future 13th Earl. Created during the late 18th century, the painting functions as a formal group portrait capturing the aristocratic lineage.

While the specific circumstances of the original commission are not detailed in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to 1776. The artwork eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed. The physical dimensions of the canvas are recorded as approximately 127.5 cm in height and 101.6 cm in width.

The portrait is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is inventoried as 1975.1.196. It was first publicly exhibited in 1776 at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, as noted in the artist’s ledgers and early reviews of the Academy’s annual exhibition. The picture remained in the Derby family until the twentieth century, after which it entered the Metropolitan’s collection in 1975 through purchase, Accession 1975.1.196.

The portrait of Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, with his wife Elizabeth Hamilton and their son, exemplifies 18th‑century British aristocratic family representation. Executed by Angelica Kauffmann in 1776, the oil on canvas work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a family portrait and studied for its technical mastery and social symbolism. Scholars reference the painting when examining Kauffmann’s role in advancing portraiture beyond individual likenesses to group compositions that convey lineage and status.

Its inclusion in a major museum collection has ensured continued scholarly attention to the visual culture of the British nobility.

Angelica Kauffmann, a Swiss artist, completed this group portrait around 1776, depicting Edward Smith Stanley, the newly appointed Twelfth Earl of Derby, alongside his wife, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, and their infant son, Edward. The painting commemorates a pivotal moment for the young aristocratic family in London, coinciding with the Earl's succession and the birth of his heir. It offers a glimpse into their early domestic life, rendered with a sense of refined elegance.