Medium
Oil on CanvasSubject
This painting, entitled “Portrait of the Earl of Stanhope,” likely depicts Philip Henry Stanhope (1781–1855), fourth Earl of Stanhope, who would have been in his 30s or 40s when he sat for the portrait. Philip was the son of Charles Stanhope (1753–1816), third Earl of Stanhope, and Louisa Grenville (1758–1829). Despite being educated at Chevening, his family's estate, Philip rejected his family’s ideals and allegedly became estranged from his father over differing perspectives on the French Revolution.
Philip married the Honourable Catherine Lucy Smith (1785–1843) in 1803, and with political support from his father-in-law, Robert Smith (1752–1838), first Baron of Carrington, later served as both a member of Parliament and the House of Lords. In addition to his inherited wealth, Philip made much of his fortune from a Jamaican sugar plantation where he and his business partner enslaved over 200 people.Subject Person
Philip Henry Stanhope, 4th Earl of Stanhope
