Art Funded by you

Portrait of Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour

John Singer Sargent, 1908

Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930) was a pivotal figure in British politics from the 1880s to the late 1920s. He was Prime Minister from 1902-1905. During his time as Foreign Secretary from 1916-1919 he oversaw the Balfour Declaration which supported the establishment of a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Sargent portrays him as a sad philosopher and a sad statesman. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portrait of Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, 1908

Date supported

2002

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

256.5 x 147.3 cm

Grant

277000

Total cost

900000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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