The 2015 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London was the first gallery show dedicated entirely to the life of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo , it moved beyond his image as a "military hero" to explore his complex career as a statesman and his private life. Exhibition Highlights
: Begun in 1829 while Wellington was Prime Minister, this psychological study was a major highlight and later the subject of a successful public fundraising appeal for the gallery to acquire it. Wellington and Waterloo: The Duke, the Battle a...
: A revealing, "unsuave" likeness started after Wellington entered Madrid and later modified to reflect his rising status. The 2015 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
: A youthful 1795 portrait by John Hoppner contrasted sharply with a rare 1844 daguerreotype —one of the earliest photographs of a major historical figure—taken on his 75th birthday. Key Themes : A revealing, "unsuave" likeness started after Wellington
: The show featured 59 works, including:
: Critics from the Telegraph praised the exhibition for its ability to tell Wellington's story through an engaging mix of paintings, political cartoons, and personal memorabilia.