“Stop to admire this detailed portrait of John Garratt, Lord Mayor of London, captured in his ceremonial robes. It's a window into the formal elegance and civic importance of the early 19th century.”
John Garratt, Lord Mayor of London, gazes out from this formal portrait, his expression serious and composed. He is depicted in the full regalia of his office, a testament to his prominent position in early 19th-century London. The rich textures of his robes and the subtle play of light on the fabrics are meticulously rendered, drawing the viewer's eye to the details of his attire. This painting captures a moment of civic pride and individual gravitas, reflecting the era's emphasis on public service and the dignity of high office. The artist, Thomas Stewardson, born in 1781, was a British portrait painter, and this work, painted in 1825, falls squarely within his active period.
- Artist
- Thomas Stewardson
- Date
- 1825
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Guildhall Art Gallery
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The intricate gold embroidery on the Lord Mayor's red robes.
The heavy gold chain of office draped around his neck.
The white lace cravat and cuffs, contrasting with the dark fabric.
The detailed rendering of his powdered wig.
1 more detail is waiting.
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Thomas Stewardson
1781–1859Thomas Stewardson was a British portrait painter whose work inspired poems by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
Further Works by Stewardson
Mr Jackson
1800 · Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Mrs Jackson
1800 · Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Portrait of the Artist's Father
1800 · Abbot Hall Art Gallery
The Ainslie Sisters (Agnes and Margaret)
1808 · Abbot Hall Art Gallery
George Birkett
1810 · Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Mr Hugh Gurnal
1810 · Kendal Town Hall
The Children of the 13th Marquess
1812 · Winchester Guildhall
George, 1st Earl of Onslow (1731-1814)
1813 · National Trust
More works to explore
Beyond Stewardson: works from the same years.
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Estuary Farm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1831 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Death on a pale horse
J. M. W. Turner · 1825 · National Gallery
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan
Eugène Delacroix · 1826 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Fortune Teller (La Bonne Aventure)
Jacques-Louis David · 1824 · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Amédée-David, the Comte de Pastoret
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1823 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Saturn Devouring His Son
Francisco Goya · 1820 · Museo del Prado
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Two Men Contemplating the Moon
Caspar David Friedrich · 1819 · Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)
John Philip Simpson · 1827 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
The Five Points
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1822 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Mr. James Mackie
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1830 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Conflagration of the Masonic Hall, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samuel Jones · 1819 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1810s–1840s
Woman in a Blue Dress
School of William Matthew Prior · 1840 · Art Institute of Chicago
