Alexander Maconochie-Wellwood, 2nd Lord Meadowbank, 1777 - 1861. Judge

Alexander Maconochie-Wellwood, 2nd Lord Meadowbank, a Scottish judge and legal scholar, appears in this portrait from around 1810 at the National Galleries of Scotland. Lord Meadowbank served on the Scottish bench and was known for his legal writings and parliamentary service. Shee"s Scottish sitters reflect the close connections between Edinburgh"s legal establishment and London society, with Scottish lords and judges regularly making the journey south for portrait sittings.

The judicial portrait shows Meadowbank in formal attire befitting his position, with the dark tones of legal dress creating a characteristically somber composition. Shee renders the Scottish judge"s features with the directness and precision expected of a likeness intended for institutional or family display. The warm tonality and careful modeling of the face contrast with the more summary treatment of costume and background.