Portrait of George Hibbert

George Hibbert was a wealthy West India merchant and one of the most important art collectors of the Regency era, whose collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings was considered among the finest in private hands. His portrait at the London Museum Docklands connects him to the maritime commerce that was the source of his fortune. Hibbert was also a defender of the slave trade, opposing abolition on economic grounds — a position that places him on the wrong side of history.

Lawrence renders the collector with the prosperous confidence of a man accustomed to wealth and influence. The warm palette and assured handling reflect the sitter's social standing, while the shrewd, intelligent expression speaks to the connoisseurship that made Hibbert one of the most respected collectors of his generation.