English: Thomas Hickey (1741-1824)

Portrait of George, 1st Earl Macartney, half length, wearing the Order of the Bath

oil on canvas

30 x 25in. (76.2 x 63.5cm.)

Over a rich embroidered velvet I wore the mantle of the Order of Bath, with the collar, a diamond badge and a diamond star.

George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney

A half length portrait of Lord Macartney at the time of his appointment as Ambassador to China, painted by the official artist to the embassy. The three-quarter length version of the portrait was engraved and published as plate VIII, the frontispiece to volume II of George Staunton's An authentic account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China ('His Excellency the Earl of Macartney Embassador Extraordinary from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China'). Hickey paints Macartney in 1792 (following his appointment to the post but before the departure of the embassy on 26 September 1792), in the dress he would wear at his audience with the Qianlong Emperor on 14 September 1793 at the imperial palace at Jehol (Chengde): 'His Excellency was habited in a richly embroidered suit of velvet, adorned with a diamond badge and star, of the Order of the Bath, Over the suit he wore a long mantle of the same order, sufficiently ample to cover the limbs of the wearer. An attention to Chinese ideas and manners rendered the choice of dress of some importance; and accounts for this mention of it. The particular regard, in every instance, paid by that nation to exterior appearances, affects even the system of their apparel, which is calculated to inspire gravity and reserve. ... The broad mantle, which as a Knight of the Order of the Bath the ambassador was entitled to wear, was somewhat upon the plan of dress most pleasing to the Chinese.' (G. Staunton, Ibid, pp.230-31).

The present portrait was drawn in George Scharf's 1859 sketchbook (NPG), where he recorded the work was signed and dated 1792 above the sitter's right shoulder, both presumably removed before the portrait was given to Gainsborough Dupont at the Christie's sale in 1866. The picture was with Henry Farrer, the artist, picture restorer and dealer, and included in his sale shortly after his death in April 1866. For Farrer's activities in the London art world, see the online directory of British picture restorers at the National Portrait Gallery website https://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/directory-of-british-picture-restorers/ .

After his governorship of Madras, 1781-1785, 'Macartney's next posting was dictated to some extent by his old masters, the East India Company. The company, together with the government, was anxious to ameliorate conditions for trade with China and sent Macartney on an embassy to Peking (Beijing). He was sworn of the privy council on 2 May 1792, awarded a salary of £10,000 and an allowance of £5000, and created Viscount Macartney on 28 June 1792. His party, which numbered ninety-four, including Staunton and a galaxy of experts, embarked in the Lion on 26 September 1792. Samples of the best British manufactures, with mechanical toys to entertain the octogenarian emperor Qianlong, were shipped. After enjoying the customary spectacles enjoined by Chinese hospitality, Macartney was presented to Qianlong at Jehol on 14 September 1793. The event, in which Macartney alone was able to avoid making the ceremonial kowtow to the emperor, was caricatured by Gillray. Thereafter he barely glimpsed the emperor. The premier Heshan refused to negotiate a treaty of trade and friendship, and Macartney was handed his dismissal on 3 October, a week after reaching Peking. His journals, which display ample appreciation of China, were later published in Barrow's life of Macartney (1807); Staunton published an acclaimed account of their mission in 1797. Macartney concluded that China could easily be bombarded, but accepted that the potential for commercial expansion by British traders was thwarted by the Chinese refusal to allow a resident minister in Peking. He returned home via Canton (Guangzhou), where he held talks about improving conditions for the British merchants, but he made no progress on reforming the unsatisfactory system then in operation.' (DNB).