Portrait of John Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Ponsonby 1841

This watercolor portrait of John Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Ponsonby, was painted in 1841 by John Frederick Lewis. The artwork portrays the Viscount in a seated position, clad in a dark suit with a blue academic gown draped over his shoulders. Lewis's characteristic attention to detail is evident in the subtle nuances of light and shadow, giving the portrait a lifelike quality. The Viscount's contemplative expression and the surrounding objects, like a small table with papers and a closed box, evoke a sense of scholarly leisure. This artwork is a fine example of Lewis's skill as a portrait painter, demonstrating his ability to capture the sitter's personality and social standing.