George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, 1784 - 1860. Statesman

George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, who would become Prime Minister during the Crimean War, appears in this 1838 portrait at the National Galleries of Scotland when he was still a senior diplomat and cabinet minister. Aberdeen had served as Foreign Secretary under Wellington and would later lead the coalition government that entered the Crimean War in 1854 — a conflict that would eventually destroy his ministry. The 1838 portrait captures him at the height of his diplomatic reputation, before the catastrophic political consequences of the war. The National Galleries of Scotland's collection of Scottish and British portraits preserves this among other images of distinguished Scots in British public life.

The statesman"s portrait presents Aberdeen with the gravitas appropriate to a Foreign Secretary, his expression suggesting the cautious, thoughtful temperament that characterized his political style. Shee"s palette is dark and dignified, with the only color accents coming from the blue ribbon of the Order of the Thistle or similar decorations. The face is rendered with particular care, capturing the solemn, somewhat melancholy cast that contemporaries noted.