Artwork

Robert Williams Vaughan (1803–1859), Bt

Robert Williams Vaughan (1803–1859), Bt, by Samuel Drummond, oil, 1825
Robert Williams Vaughan (1803–1859), Bt, by Samuel Drummond, oil, 1825

Robert Williams Vaughan (1803–1859), Bt is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Samuel Drummond. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting is a portrait of Robert Williams Vaughan, Bt, created in 1825 by Samuel Drummond. It exemplifies British Romanticism in its style and falls within the portraiture genre, a field where Drummond was known to work.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Robert Williams Vaughan, is depicted formally, suggesting a professional or dignified context. He is shown with short white hair, wearing a black coat, white shirt with a high collar, and a patterned waistcoat, holding a piece of paper in his right hand.

Technique & Style

The painting utilizes chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, to achieve a sense of depth and three-dimensionality, characteristic of the British Romantic style.

History & Provenance

Created in 1825 by Samuel Drummond, specific details about the painting's history and ownership (provenance) are not provided in the available information.

Context

The work reflects the artistic tendencies of its time, aligning with the portraiture traditions of early 19th-century Britain, where formal depictions of individuals were common for those of Vaughan's stature.

Legacy

The painting's legacy is not explicitly detailed, but as a work of Samuel Drummond, it contributes to the broader understanding of British Romantic portraiture of the early 19th century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Samuel Drummond

Artist

Samuel Drummond

Samuel Drummond (25 December 1766 – 6 August 1844) was a British painter, especially prolific in portrait and marine genre painting.