John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich 

What are your first impressions of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792) based on this image? Painted by Thomas Gainsborough in 1783, the full-length portrait depicts the statesman against the background of Greenwich Hospital in London. 👇 This portrait was commissioned by the governor of Greenwich Hospital to mark the end of Earl Montagu’s influential political and military career. In his hand, he holds a scroll which contains the architectural plan for the hospital building. The figure is depicted dressed in a sumptuous black tailcoat and cropped breeches – the typical fashion of 1780s Georgian aristocracy. The gold embroidery clearly communicates wealth and status. His coat is lined with expensive green silk, and he wears a grey powdered wig. Sandwich looks out into the distance with a contemplative expression. This builds a sense of his intelligence and wise nature. The Earl of Sandwich is most famous as the suggested inventor of the sandwich. According to one story, the sandwich originated when Lord Sandwich requested his meat to be served between two slices of bread, so that he could eat without the need for cutlery while gambling. 🥪 This painting blends the genres of portrait and landscape – a signature style for its artist, Thomas Gainsborough. Gainsborough moved to London in 1774, and began to accept a variety of commissions from wealthy aristocrats. He even painted King George III and Queen Charlotte! 💸 Renowned for technical skill, Gainsborough often combined detailed human appearances with loose brushstrokes and hazy backgrounds. Here, the naturalistic appearance of Sandwich is contrasted by the more expressive brushstrokes which dominate the skyline. 🎨 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham