Portrait of Sir Walter Stirling 1st Baronet, Signed & Dated 1800; by William Philip James Lodder (Loder) (Active 1783-1805)

On a hillside and under a moody sky, this exquisite portrait depicts a dashing young officer proudly wearing an elaborate scarlet coatee and white breeches, one hand holding a plumed hat, and the other a rapier. The uniform and accoutrements displayed here are of an officer serving in the Somerset Place Volunteers, 1800. The unit was part of the numerous London Volunteer regiments and companies raised during the French Revolutionary War. It was disbanded in 1801. Somerset Place, no longer in existence, was previously a row of 23 houses on the north side of the present Euston Road situated between the British Library and Euston Station.

The gentleman is Major Commandant Sir Walter Stirling, 1st Baronet of Faskine, a rank that he achieved in 1798. He was later Lieut-Col. of the Prince of Wales's Loyal Middlesex Volunteers in 1803-08 and a member of the London and Westminster Light Horse in 1803–07. He descended from an ancient Scottish family, four branches of which have at various times been elevated to the title of Baronet.

He was born June 24, 1758, the elder son of Sir Walter Stirling, Knt Capt R.N. by Dorothy, daughter of Charles Willing, of Philadelphia. His younger brother was the Vice Admiral Stirling. He was brought up to commercial pursuits, and was for many years a Director of the Globe Insurance Co, and a partner in the banking-house of Hodsoll and Stirling in the Strand. He was created Baronet in 1800, and this event was most likely the reason why the portrait was painted as it was common to immortalise in paint an important event or milestone in one’s life.

He served as an M.P. in 1798 for Gatton and for St. Ive’s from 1807. In 1804 he served Sheriff for Kent, in which county his seat was Shoreham Castle. On 4 May 1796 the Duke of Gordon wrote of him to Henry Dundas: "He is a gentleman of independent fortune, much attached to the present government and whose sole ambition is to be created a baronet".

Sir Walter married Susannah, daughter and sole heiress of George Trenchard Goodenough on 28th April 1794. The couple had a son and four daughters before Lady Susannah tragically died giving birth in 1806. Their son, Walter-George later succeeded to the title when our sitter died on 25 August 1832.

This exquisite portrait bears testimony to the artist’s ability to convey not just a likeness but something of the character of the sitter – self-assured, but there is also a sense of warmth. The red scarlet cloth and the gold detail against the dark background are an apparently effortless harmonisation of tones, and they create a strong sense of drama. The artist specialised in small scale very good quality portraits of which only a very small body is known to have survived; this portrait is a rare item indeed.

The portrait is inscribed upper right “Sir Walter/Stirling, Bart 1800” and is signed and dated lower left 'W P J Lodder 1800'. Held in a fine quality gilded antique frame.

Provenance:

By descent from the sitter to Sir Walter George Stirling, 3rd Baronet (1839-1934);

With Gooden & Fox Gallery – 2nd Feb 1934

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