How you can use this image
This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).
Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.
The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.
Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.
Notes
Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.
Ramsay painted and presented this portrait to the Foundling Hospital in 1747. Richard Mead, a prominent London physician, was both court doctor to George II and medical consultant to the Foundling Hospital. Mead assisted Thomas Coram in making contact with influential supporters for his campaign to establish the Hospital. Mead went on to serve as a Hospital Governor. He lived in a house on Great Ormond Street in which he amassed a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, coins and gems which he made accessible to various scholars, scientists and artists of the day, including Allan Ramsay. Mead gave Ramsay letters of introduction when he left England to study in Italy (Mead had also studied there in the 1690s). Mead further promoted Ramsay’s career when he returned to London in 1738.
The Foundling Museum
London
Title
Dr Richard Mead
Date
1747
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 236.2 x W 144.8 cm
Accession number
FM50
Acquisition method
presented by the artist, 1747
Work type
Painting
The Foundling Museum
40 Brunswick Square, London, Greater London WC1N 1AZ England
-
Abigail Ward Warwickshire Museum Service -
Mrs Everard Victoria and Albert Museum -
Archibald Campbell (1682–1761), 3rd Duke of Argyll Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC) -
Queen Charlotte (1744–1818) Cupar County Buildings -
Captain Sir John Lindsay (1737–1788) The Burrell Collection -
Clementina Walkinshaw (1720–1802) West Highland Museum -
Henrietta Diana (1728–1761), Dowager Countess of Stafford Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - 230 more
Stories
-
Allan Ramsay's 'Dr Richard Mead'Amanda Hilliam
-
Picturing the doctor in art: a diagnosisJane Simpkiss