Portrait of Arthur Wellesley, later 1st Duke of Wellington
1806
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1806
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This is a small, oval portrait of Arthur Wellesley, the man who later became the Duke of Wellington. He wears a red military coat with gold trim and a white cravat. Wright painted miniatures—tiny portraits meant to be carried like photos today. Most were on ivory, but this one’s surface is unknown. The brushstrokes are thick and bold, almost like oil paint, which was unusual for miniatures at the time. Look at the warm yellow tones in his face. To see more works like this, look up technique: impasto.
