Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey 'Clive of India', KB, FRS, DCL, MP (1725-1774)
Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, RA (London 1735 - Winchester 1811)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1770
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
2337 x 1448 mm (92 x 57 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180917
Caption
Robert Clive was a Governor of Bengal and is today credited as the founder of British rule in India. It is as a result of this role that he earned the popular name ‘Clive of India’. In 1764 he was named a Knight of the Bath, and he is shown wearing the ribbon of this honour in this portrait. Several studio versions of this portrait exist (for example, NT 1181066) and it was widely disseminated in engraved form. The scene of military conflict in the background is thought to represent the Battle of Plassey (1757), in which Clive played a decisive commanding role.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey 'Clive of India', KB, FRS, DCL, MP (1725-1774) by Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland RA (London 1735 – Winchester 1811), inscribed (bottom right): N Dance (ND in monogram), circa 1770. A full-length portrait of Robert Clive, standing to the right, in uniform, with yellow breeches and waistcoat and red long-tailed jacket, carrying his hat in his right hand and a stick in his hand, seen against a landscape background.
Provenance
Brought to Powis Castle from Walcot Hall in 1930. Accepted by HM Treasury on 21st March, 1963 in lieu of tax and conveyed to National Trust ownership on 29th November 1963. Recorded at Walcot Hall in Montgomery Collections Vol VI P.148 in 1873
Credit line
Powis Castle, The Powis Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: old label on bottom rail of frame: No. 17 in sepia ink. Verso - center of canvas stretcher: MANCESTER CITY ART GALLERY / Exhibition of Works of Art from private/ Collections in the North West and North Wales/ 21st September to 30th October 1960. / Cat. 110 Artist NATHANIEL DANCE/ Title ROBERT CLIVE / Owner THE EARL OF POWIS Verso - tied to hanging ring proper left: British Empire Exhibition Wembley, 1924./ PALACE OF ARTS - Retrospective Loan Collection./ Return to / Walcot/ near Craven Arms / Lydbury North / Shropshire/ Name and Address of Owner { The Rt Hon. The Earl of Powis / Powis Castle / Welshpool. / Title of works for Catalogue } Lord Clive (1725-1774) / Name of Artist Sir N. Dance - Holland. R.A. / Medium Oil // Lent By/ Name and Address of Owner { The Earl of Powis / Title of works for Catalogue { Lord Clive (1725-1774) / Name of Artist Sir N. Dance - Holland / Medium Oil .... R.A.(1735-1811)
Makers and roles
Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, RA (London 1735 - Winchester 1811), artist
References
Steegman 1957 John Steegman, A Survey of Portraits in Welsh Houses, Vol.I: North Wales, Cardiff, 1957, No. 47, Pl. 44c Kerslake 1977 John Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, London 1977 (2 vols), I, p. 58, II, pl. 158