Artwork

Portrait of Richard Burke, Son of Edmund Burke, Parliamentary Agent of the Catholic Committee (1758-1794)

Portrait of Richard Burke, Son of Edmund Burke, Parliamentary Agent of the Catholic Committee (1758-1794) is an oil painting by George Hayter. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

About this work

Overview

George Hayter painted this oil portrait of Richard Burke, the son of the 18th‑century statesman Edmund Burke, around 1841. The work, now in the National Gallery of Ireland, presents the younger Burke in a dark interior, his gaze directed to the right, his expression subdued and reflective.

Subject & Meaning

Richard Burke is shown wearing a red jacket over a white shirt and cravat, his short white hair contrasting with his pale complexion. The downward tilt of his eyes and the quiet demeanor suggest a contemplative mood, perhaps alluding to his role as parliamentary agent for the Catholic Committee.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, Hayter employs a restrained palette, allowing the red of the jacket to stand out against a muted background. The brushwork is smooth, rendering the fabrics and facial features with a clarity typical of mid‑19th‑century British portraiture.

History & Provenance

Hayter, who later became Queen Victoria’s Principal Painter in Ordinary and was knighted in 1841, created this portrait shortly before receiving his royal appointment. The painting entered the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, where it remains on public display.

Context

The portrait reflects the political climate of the early 19th century, when Catholic emancipation was a pressing issue in Britain and Ireland. As the parliamentary agent for the Catholic Committee, Richard Burke’s likeness would have been of interest to contemporaries engaged in the reform movement.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Hayter

Sir George Hayter (17 December 1792 – 18 January 1871) was an English painter, specialising in portraits and large works involving sometimes several hundred individual portraits.