Portret van Arthur Wellesley of Wellington 1838

This is Anthonie van Volkom's portrait of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, rendered using etching and line engraving. Born into an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family, Wellesley's life was one of military and political power, embodying the complexities of class, colonialism, and identity in the 19th century. As a leading figure in the British Army, his victories shaped European politics and solidified Britain’s imperial ambitions. His image, carefully constructed and widely circulated, served to reinforce ideals of British exceptionalism. Van Volkom's print captures Wellington's stoic and determined gaze, a visual echo of the power he wielded. But it also invites us to reflect on the human cost of empire-building, and to consider the uncomfortable legacy of those who, like Wellington, were both celebrated and complicit in systems of oppression.