John Julius Angerstein (1736–1823)

The portrait of John Julius Angerstein was executed by Thomas Lawrence in 1809 as an oil on canvas work measuring 91.4 × 71.1 cm. It was created as a likeness of the financier and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been displayed since its acquisition. The painting’s authorship, date, and subject are documented in contemporary records, and its material composition matches Lawrence’s typical technique of the period. Its subsequent ownership is traced to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which now holds and exhibits the work.

Thomas Lawrence's 1809 oil portrait of John Julius Angerstein is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork, measuring 91.4 cm in height and 71.1 cm in width, depicts the subject as a man in a formal portrait style. While the source confirms the painting's current location at the museum and its creation date of 1809, it does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the work.

Furthermore, the available documentation does not list any specific exhibition history or past displays of this portrait, limiting the historical record to its attribution to Lawrence and its present custodianship.

Thomas Lawrence, a prominent English portraitist, completed this oil painting of John Julius Angerstein in 1809. The work exemplifies British Romanticism through its depiction of the subject. Angerstein, a significant figure of his time, is presented with a composed demeanor.

This portrait is currently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key example of Lawrence's mature period.

Sir Thomas Lawrence emerged as a leading figure in English portraiture during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His career began remarkably early as a child prodigy, initially working in pastels before mastering oil painting. By 1809, when he painted Angerstein, Lawrence had already secured numerous royal commissions and would later become President of the Royal Academy, solidifying his reputation as a preeminent artist of his era.