Artwork

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834)

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834), by Joshua Reynolds, oil, 1768
George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834), by Joshua Reynolds, oil, 1768

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Joshua Reynolds. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Joshua Reynolds's 1768 double portrait depicts George Capel, Viscount Malden (later the 5th Earl of Essex), and his sister Lady Elizabeth Capel.

Joshua Reynolds's 1768 double portrait depicts George Capel, Viscount Malden (later the 5th Earl of Essex), and his sister Lady Elizabeth Capel. George, born in 1757, was about eleven at the time, and Lady Elizabeth, born in 1755, about thirteen. The composition presents the siblings in the manner characteristic of Reynolds's aristocratic commissions, set against an open landscape background that alludes to their family's landed status. Reynolds's idealized yet naturalistic treatment frames the two children as embodiments of cultivated nobility and familial continuity.

Technique & Style

Created in 1768, the portrait of George Capel, Viscount Malden, and Lady Elizabeth Capel is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 181.6 cm in height and 145.4 cm in width. As a formal portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, the piece adheres to the stylistic conventions of the artist's late 18th-century output, utilizing the medium of oil to render the subjects with the characteristic finish of the period.

The painting is classified within the genre of portraiture and remains part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The specific handling of the oil medium on the large-scale canvas allows for the detailed depiction of the sitters, consistent with Reynolds' established techniques for aristocratic commissions of that era.

History & Provenance

The double portrait George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) was commissioned from Joshua Reynolds and executed in 1768. It depicts the siblings George Capel-Coningsby, later the 5th Earl of Essex, and Lady Elizabeth Capel, who married the 2nd Baron Monson in 1781. Created as an oil on canvas, the work measures 181.6 by 145.4 centimetres and is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No accession number, credit line, earlier private ownership, or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Overview

This oil painting, created in 1768 by the prominent English portraitist Joshua Reynolds, depicts two young members of the Capel family: George Capel, Viscount Malden, and his sister, Lady Elizabeth Capel. Reynolds, a leading figure in 18th-century British art, captured the children in a serene outdoor setting. The work exemplifies the artist's approach to portraiture, which often elevated sitters through a sense of idealized grace rather than strict realism.

Context

Joshua Reynolds, who painted this work, was a highly influential figure in 18th-century British art. He was instrumental in establishing the Royal Academy of Arts, serving as its first president, and received a knighthood from King George III in 1769. This recognition solidified his position as the era's foremost portrait painter, whose works shaped the aesthetic sensibilities of the British aristocracy and gentry.

Thomas (1740–1825) and Martha Neate (1741–after 1795) with His Tutor, Thomas Needham
Thomas (1740–1825) and Martha Neate (1741–after 1795) with His Tutor, Thomas Needham, Joshua Reynolds

Artist & collection

Portrait of Joshua Reynolds

Artist

Joshua Reynolds

Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834)?

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) was painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1768-01-01.

Where can I see George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834)?

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834)?

George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834)?

Museum-quality prints of George Capel, Viscount Malden (1757–1839), and Lady Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.