Sir George Beaumont (1753 - 1827), painter and collector, promised to give his collection of pictures to the nation if a National Gallery was created, and was instrumental in its foundation. The Beaumont Gift (1823 - 28) consisted of sixteen pictures (some of which are now in the Tate Gallery).
It is likely that this is the portrait of Beaumont that Hoppner is recorded as having painted in May 1806. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1809. Several replicas were executed.
