Frederick Richard Say, fl. 1825-1854

The present work shows the Duke of Wellington as chancellor of Oxford university.  He was elected to this post on 29th January 1834 and received with the wildest enthusiasm when he went there to be installed on 9th June (Croker, ii, 225).  The Wellington Medal was minted to commemorate his induction as Chancellor of Oxford  and can be seen in the portrait to the immediate right of the central order he is wearing to the right of his lace jabot.  Wellington was delighted with his appointment, one of only two non-Oxonians since Oliver Cromwell to be elected to the post.  His enjoyment was undiminished when on a fraternal visit to Cambridge to see Prince Albert installed as Chancellor there, he was greeted with more enthusiasm than his royal counterpart.

Antoine Claudet's celebrated daguerrotype of 1842,  would suggest the earliest date for the painting.  The robes may very well be derived from John Lucas' full length portrait of Wellington, commissioned by the University and now hanging in the Examination Schools.