Lowes Cato Dickinson

The Earl Granville (sale: Christie's, London, 11 July 2013, lot 80)

Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

This work is a smaller version of Dickinson's group portrait painting of the same title (National Portrait Gallery, London). It depicts leading members of William Ewart Gladstone's first ministry. Gladstone defeated the Conservatives at the 1868 general election and went on to serve as Prime Minister four times.

From left to right the sitters are:

(1) Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke (1811-92), Chancellor of the Exchequer;

(2) Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire (1833-1908);

(3) John Bright (1811-89);

(4) George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (1823-1900);

(5) Chichester Samuel Parkinson-Fortescue, Baron Carlingford and 2nd Baron Clermont (1823-98);

(6) George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (1800-70);

(7) Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare (1815-95);

(8) William Page Wood, Baron Hatherley (1801-81), Lord Chancellor;

(9) George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, Earl of de Grey (1827-1909), Viceroy of India;

(10) William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Prime Minister;

(11) Edward Cardwell, Viscount Cardwell (1813-86);

(12) Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (1827-96);

(13) Granville George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville (1815-1891);

(14) John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826-1902);

(15) George Joachim Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen (1831-1907)