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Richard Crawshay was born in Normanton, Yorkshire, the son of a farmer named William Crawshaw. He ran away to London aged 15 and worked his way up to be the wealthiest iron merchant in the capital. He became a partner in the Cyfarthfa Ironworks in 1786 and took complete control when its founder, Anthony Bacon, died. He adopted new technology that made Cyfarthfa the biggest ironworks in the world by 1803, and ran things so well that, upon his death in 1810, he was worth £1.5 million. Richard had a jovial character. Upon greeting Nelson, who had come to see where the cannons for HMS 'Victory' had been made, Richard roared at his workers, 'Here's Nelson boys. Shout you beggars!' This is one of 16 identical portraits Richard had painted of himself to help a struggling young artist, although only three are known to survive.
Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Merthyr Tydfil
Title
Richard Crawshay (1739–1810)
Date
c.1790
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 133 x W 93 cm
Accession number
CCM.2.007
Acquisition method
gift
Work type
Painting
