Caleb (Ramsbottom) Baldwin
- Artist: George Smeeton
- Date: 1812
- Medium: hand-coloured etching
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: Caleb (Ramsbottom) Baldwin
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a hand‑coloured etching titled “Caleb (Ramsbottom) Baldwin,” published by printer George Smeeton on 21 October 1812. You’ll see the fighter in profile, his head tilted left, eyes focused straight ahead. He wears a simple tunic and a hat that hangs over one ear, while the muted background lets his face take centre stage. The etched lines give sharp outlines; the hand‑coloured washes add warmth to the hair and eye area, making the print feel almost alive. The piece carries Smeeton’s stamp, confirming its early 19th‑century origin. Caleb lived from 1769 to 1827 and was a noted prize‑fighter whose reputation spread across Britain. This portrait was issued as part of a series of single‑man figures in the National Portrait Gallery.
See it in person
Caleb (Ramsbottom) Baldwin is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
