Richard Lord Viscount Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland

An oval half-length portrait of Richard Howe, Earl Howe (1726–1799) in flag officer’s undress uniform, 1767–1783, and a hat. The portrait is set in a thick oval frame. Lettered beneath the image with the title, ‘Richard Lord Viscount Howe of the Kingdom of Ireland’. Also lettered with the production details and publication line: ‘Mr. Gainsborough Pinxt. / Bretherton excu. / James Watson fecit. / Publish’d and Printed by Jas. Bretherton No.134 New Bond Street, 7th March 1778.’ This portrait was engraved by James Watson and published by James Bretherton on 5 March 1778. According to the inscription, the likeness is after a painting by Thomas Gainsborough, perhaps his full-length portrait of 1763–4 (private collection). (Updated June 2019.)