The Duke of Wellington

The brilliant red uniform and crowded decorations make Wellington’s status immediately apparent. His face is quieter, with drawn features and eyes that look beyond the display of medals. The simple background gives that contrast room to register. Francisco de Goya, the Spanish court painter, began the portrait after Arthur Wellesley entered Madrid in 1812. His victory over French forces at Salamanca had helped change the course of the Peninsular War. Wellington sat for Goya during his stay in the city. The portrait developed as the commander received new honours. Goya altered his pose and added decorations, so the surface records more than one moment between 1812 and 1814. The sitter’s public standing changed while the painting was being revised. Compare the carefully painted orders with the spare treatment of the face. The honours announce victory, but they do not make the expression triumphant. Goya allows the human appearance of the commander to remain distinct from the uniform through which his achievements are displayed.