“Stop to consider this striking portrait of Robert Williams Vaughan, a Welsh baronet, whose composed gaze and formal attire offer a window into 19th-century gentry.”
In this 1825 portrait, Robert Williams Vaughan, a Welsh baronet, gazes out with a direct and composed expression. His posture is formal, yet there's a certain ease in the way he holds himself, suggesting a man of standing and confidence. The artist has captured the subtle textures of his clothing, from the crispness of his white cravat to the rich fabric of his dark coat, indicating the fashion of the Regency era. The subdued background draws all attention to Vaughan, highlighting his features and the quiet dignity of his presence. This painting offers a glimpse into the appearance of a notable figure of 19th-century Wales, rendered with an attention to detail that brings him to life.
- Artist
- Samuel Drummond
- Date
- 1825
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- National Library of Wales
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the detailed rendering of Vaughan's cravat and shirt collar.
Notice the slight shadow under his chin, adding depth to his face.
Look at the subtle highlights in his dark hair, suggesting its texture.
See the faint blush on his cheeks, giving a lifelike quality.
1 more detail is waiting.
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Samuel Drummond
1766–1844 · EnglandSamuel Drummond, a British painter, captured the likenesses of notable figures like Walter Scott and documented maritime history with grand oil paintings.
Further Works by Drummond
Louis-Philippe-Joseph, Duke of Orleans 'Philippe Egalité' (1747-1793) (after Sir Joshua Reynolds)
1785 · National Trust
John Blake (1770–1810), Mayor of Maidstone (1799)
1799 · Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery
Repulsing a boarding party
1805 · Royal Museums Greenwich
The Death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805
1806 · Royal Museums Greenwich
Captain William Rogers capturing the 'Jeune Richard', 1 October 1807
1808 · Royal Museums Greenwich
James Asperne (1737–1820)
1813 · Museum of Freemasonry
Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter (1775–1851), Lord Mayor of London (1811)
1813 · Guildhall Art Gallery
John Reeves (1752–1829)
1814 · Eton College
More works to explore
Beyond Drummond: 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
