[2] His portrait by Grant was commissioned by the shipbuilder and art collector William Wells, who was a friend of Landseer and owned a number of his works.

[3] Grant was a leading portraitist of the early Victorian era and went on to serve as President of the Royal Academy, after Landseer had turned down the position.

An earlier version shows Landseer standing by an easel holding a palette to emphasise his profession as an artist.

In contrast, the conventional stance of the final work more closely resembles that of a businessman.

Today it is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, having been presented by the Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay in 1890.