Augustus, Duke of Sussex (1773-1843)

Executed in 1833, this portrait exemplifies David Wilkie's command of formal portraiture, drawing on Rembrandt. The work reflects the social importance of commissioned portraits in the Romantic period, serving both as personal memento and public statement of status. As Principal Painter in Ordinary, Wilkie occupied the summit of the British art establishment, and his late royal portraits and Middle Eastern subjects reflect his ambition to expand beyond the Scottish genre subjects that had made h

The portrait is rendered with expressive characterization that characterizes David Wilkie's best work. Oil on canvas provides a rich ground for the subtle gradations of flesh tone and the textural contrasts between skin, fabric, and background that give the image its convincing presence.