A historic portrait of the Duke of Wellington has fetched a record-breaking £9.67 million at a London auction, becoming the most expensive work by artist Thomas Lawrence ever sold.
The painting, depicting Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, was created by Lawrence following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Wellesley was given the title of the Duke of Wellington after playing a key role in defeating Napoleon and ending the Napoleonic Wars.
The painting personal favourite of the Duke, who also served two terms as prime minister, and he often distributed prints to his friends. As Arthur Wellesley, he was a Tory MP for Rye and then Newport in 1806 and 1807. As prime minister, though, he was in the House of Lords.
Christie’s description of the painting reads: “This is an outstanding example of Lawrence's work that helped secure his reputation, and has enthralled subsequent generations of artists and collectors. Begun in 1820, the year that Lawrence was elected President of the Royal Academy where the picture was later exhibited to great acclaim in 1822, the artist succeeded in penetrating Wellington's aura of heroism and masterfully capturing the essence of the man.”
The artwork was a highlight of Christie’s Old Masters Evening Sale, which saw combined sales exceed £50.7 million. Maja Markovic, head of the sale, remarked that the auction underscored the portrait's "storied provenance and historical importance."
Other significant lots included an Egyptian limestone statue, which achieved £3.7 million, and a Peter Paul Rubens sketch, "Aeneas helping Dido from her horse," selling for £2.7 million.
Two floral works by Jan van Huysum also performed strongly, with "fruit and flowers in a wicker basket" reaching £6.5 million and "flowers in a terracotta vase" £5.5 million. A first edition of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, alongside Anne Bronte’s Agnes Grey, commanded £1.2 million.
Notably, a cigar humidor gifted to Winston Churchill by Franklin D Roosevelt dramatically surpassed expectations, selling for £330,200 – eight times its highest pre-sale estimate.
