Who painted Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP?

Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP was painted by Charles Lucy in 1868.

Where can I see Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP?

Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP?

Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP

Charles Lucy , 1868

Joseph Hume (1777–1855), MP is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Charles Lucy. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Charles Lucy’s 1868 oil portrait presents the Scottish physician‑politician Joseph Hume, who died in 1855. The work, executed in the late Victorian period, is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection. It captures Hume in a solemn pose, emphasizing his role as a reformist public figure through a restrained, formal composition.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Joseph Hume, is shown as an elderly gentleman in a dark coat with a white cravat, his gray hair and pallid complexion conveying a dignified seriousness. He grips a bundle of papers tied with a red ribbon, a visual cue that alludes to his lifelong engagement with legislative documents and political advocacy.

Technique & Style

Lucy employs a smooth, academic brushwork typical of his training at the École des Beaux‑Arts and the Royal Academy. The dark, unadorned background isolates the figure, allowing subtle tonal variations in the flesh and fabric to dominate. The restrained palette and careful modeling reflect the British Romanticism tendency toward moral gravitas in portraiture.

History & Provenance

Completed in 1868, the portrait entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings as part of its 19th‑century British painting collection. The museum’s acquisition records indicate the work was donated shortly after Lucy’s death, ensuring its preservation within a public institution dedicated to design and decorative arts.

Context

Lucy, a Hereford‑born artist, balanced historical scenes with portrait commissions, often depicting political leaders of his era. This painting aligns with his broader output, which sought to memorialise reformist figures within a visual language that combined academic rigor with the emotive undercurrents of Romanticism.