Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801)
John Hoppner, RA (London 1758 – London 1810)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1799
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
749 x 622 mm (29 1/2 x 24 1/2in)
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597944
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801) by John Hoppner, RA (London 1758– London 1810), 1799. A half-length portrait of a mature man, facing, looking slightly to left and down, in a powdered wig, and wearing a white stock, a scarlet uniform with gold epaulettes and wearing ribbon and star of the Order of the Bath. Educated at Rugby; studied law at Edinburgh and Leipzig. As a British general he served with Sir John Moore in the Seven Years’ War and was considered a hero of the Napoleonic Wars. His left hand was damaged when he had an accident with a flintlock pistol and subsequently he wore a glove. Afterwards he was an MP. He opposed the Government’s American policy. He was made Commander in Chief of the West Indies from 1795 to 1797 and in the Mediterranean in 1800. He died of his wounds after defeating the French at Alexandria.
Provenance
Bought by Sir Malcolm Stewart from Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel (cf. letter from Allan Cameron). Bequest of Sir Percy Malcolm Stewart (1871-1951) to the National Trust in 1951 (transferred to Montacute House, 1960 after the death of Lady Stewart).
Credit line
Montacute House, The Malcolm Stewart Bequest (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Small gilt tablet affixed to bottom centre of frame, inscribed:
Makers and roles
John Hoppner, RA (London 1758 – London 1810), artist
References
Willliam McKay and William Roberts, John Hoppner, London, 1909, pp.1-2. Gore 1969: F. St John Gore, 'Pictures in National Trust Houses', supplement to Burlington Magazine, Vol.cxi, No.793. April 1969, pp.239-58, p.248. "Montacute House, Somerset (Montacute, Nr.Yeovil) Ownership. In 1960 a collection of pictures (marked *) was bequeathed by Sir Malcolm Stewart. Hoppner, J. Sir Ralph Abercrombie* 29 1/2 x 14 1/2. McKat and Roberts, Hoppner 1909, pp.1-2." Montacute House, Somerset, 1976 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1976, "THE DRAWING ROOM Sir Ralph Ambecrombie [sic], by John Hoppner (c.1758-1810)." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.60 "THE DRAWING ROOM PAINTINGS Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801) With Sir John Moore, the regenerator of the British army; served in the Seven Years War, and afterwards as an MP opposed the government's American policy; Commonder-in-Chief in the West Indies, 1795-7, and in the Mediterranean, 1800; died of wounds after defeating the French at Alexandria. (Stewart bequest) John Hoppner (1758-1810), c.1799." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.60 "THE DRAWING ROOM PAINTINGS Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801) With Sir John Moore, the regenerator of the British army; served in the Seven Years War, and afterwards as an MP opposed the government's American policy; Commonder-in-Chief in the West Indies, 1795-7, and in the Mediterranean, 1800; died of wounds after defeating the French at Alexandria. (Stewart bequest) John Hoppner (1758-1810), c.1799." Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.48 "THE DRAWING ROOM PAINTINGS Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801) With Sir John Moore, the regenerator of the British army; served in the Seven Years War, and afterwards as an MP opposed the government's American policy; Commonder-in-Chief in the West Indies, 1795-7, and in the Mediterranean, 1800; died of wounds after defeating the French at Alexandria. (Stewart bequest) John Hoppner (1758-1810), c.1799."