Oil Portrait Captain John Campbell Of Melfort Argyll 1769-1801 Antique 18th Paintings

We are delighted to offer for sale this early portrait of Captain John Campbell of Melfort, Argyll, Scotland, who has the second son of Colonel John Campbell of Melfort and his wife Colina.  

He was born in Killin Perthshire, on 25th May 1769.  

He was one of three sons who served in the 74th Regiment (Argyll Highlanders) all died in India, as did John on 16th July, 1801.  

He was wounded in the storming of Fort Pungullamcouchy (Madras) on 1st April 1801. 

At the siege, where the storming party to which they belonged being recalled from an impracticable breach, John, having missed his brother Alexander, and being informed that he had fallen, returned to the breach and succeeded in bringing him off, but was wounded in doing so.  

Alexander died and John, having returned to his duty too early, died of his wounds on 16th July.  His other brother George Lorn Campbell died at the Assaye in 1803.

He was mentioned in the Duke of Wellington’s despatches, who said of him ‘I think that Campbell (John) is the greatest loss this army has sustained for a length of time.  

He always performed his duty with the utmost ability and with advantage to the public’. 

John was one of 17 children that Colina bore, after her marriage at the age of 15.

It is possible that after his death, his rank was upgraded to Captain, as there is a memorial Iona cross to members of his family in the churchyard at Kilmelfort, where he is listed as a Lieutenant.

Melfort is a village at the head of Loch Melfort in Argyll on the west coast of Scotland.

John is depicted standing, wearing a black double-breasted jacket with velvet collar and brass buttons, with a buff waistcoat and the typical high collared shirt and cravat of the period.  

He is portrayed before a red curtain, pulled back by a gold tassel and there is a landscape to the left. 

ARTIST / AFTER SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE

Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA FRS (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was a leading English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy.

Lawrence was a child prodigy. He was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper. At the age of ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his pastel portraits. At eighteen he went to London and soon established his reputation as a portrait painter in oils, receiving his first royal commission, a portrait of Queen Charlotte, in 1790. He stayed at the top of his profession until his death, aged 60, in 1830.

Self-taught, he was a brilliant draughtsman and known for his gift of capturing a likeness, as well as his virtuoso handling of paint. He became an associate of the Royal Academy in 1791, a full member in 1794, and president in 1820. In 1810 he acquired the generous patronage of the Prince Regent, was sent abroad to paint portraits of allied leaders for the Waterloo chamber at Windsor Castle.

FRAME: Set within an antique style later decorative gilt frame.

CONDITION

The painting has had a past historical reline and restoration to a good standard.

MEASUREMENTS ( Including Frame )

Height  38.5 Inches ( 98cm )

Width : 33 Inches  ( 84 cm )

DELIVERY :

UK £80 / EU £200 / USA £280TELEPHONE 07765 856171

Ref : 0884