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Sir Sampson Gideon and an unidentified companion
1767
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
275.6 × 189.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Everard Studley Miller Bequest, 1963
Gallery location
17th to 18th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
This painting is a document of the Grand Tour (the traditional visit to Europe undertaken by Britain’s upper classes), and is one of Pompeo Batoni’s finest portraits of an English visitor to Rome. The seated figure is Sir Sampson Gideon (1745–1824), the son of a wealthy financier of Portuguese origin. Although Sir Sampson visited Rome in 1766, the evidence suggests that this picture, dated 1767, was completed after his return to England. He is depicted showing a portrait miniature to his companion. It can be presumed that the miniature represents Sir Sampson’s wife, Maria, whom he married in December 1766.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in brown and white paint c.l.: POMPEO BATONI / PINXIT ROMÆ / AN. 1767.
inscribed in brown paint (diagonally) c.r.: To / Sr (r underlined) Sampson Gideon Bart / Roma
Accession Number
1325-5
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Human Figures Portraits
Subjects (specific)
aristocrats breeches (trousers) busts (sculpture) dog (species) grand tours men (male humans) menswear miniatures (paintings)