El duque de Wellington

This sanguine drawing is a half-length portrait of the Duke of Wellington and is very similar in appearance to the portrait made around this same time in oil on a wood panel. This drawing almost certainly also served as a model for the head in the duke's equestrian portrait. However, comparing both portraits, we can see that the drawing is missing several medals which are present in the oil painting. This portrait was almost certainly made from life, something which is confirmed by comments left by Sir James McGrigor, head of the Staff Medical Services, who was in the room where Goya was drawing the general (Juliet Wilson-Bareau, Goya en tiempos de guerra, p. 279).

In this work, the Duke of Wellington appears tired, worn by the months of combat and by the effort of leading the English army during the Spanish War of Independence.

Underneath the red sanguine chalk of the drawing, Goya first made a pencil drawing, leaving a blank space at the bottom, probably to make room for the title.