Henry Addington, First Viscount Sidmouth 1798

John Singleton Copley painted this portrait of Henry Addington, First Viscount Sidmouth, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. The image is replete with signifiers of Addington’s status, from his elaborate judicial robes to the imposing architecture visible through the window, likely the Palace of Westminster where he served as Prime Minister. Copley, an American artist who achieved great success in London, was a master of this kind of formal portraiture, designed to project an image of power and authority. England at this time was a highly stratified society, and portraits like this played a crucial role in reinforcing the social hierarchy. Addington's conservative politics are on full display, and studying his career in Parliament through historical records can reveal his place within the changing political landscape of the time. Understanding this portrait means looking not only at the image itself but also at the social and institutional context in which it was created and consumed.