Apsley House was the home of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo. The outstanding paintings on view reflect his taste and times, and celebrate the Iron Duke as an heroic national and military figure. Their extraordinary quality and the fact that they are on display in the rooms in which they were hung by the 1st Duke, makes a visit to Apsley House a highlight of any trip to London. The paintings and house were gifted to the nation in 1947 by Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington. Many works came from the Spanish Royal Collection and were officially given to Wellington by King Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1816. Wellington also collected Dutch and Flemish Old Master works and commissioned portraits of army commanders and heads of state. Key works include 'The Waterseller of Seville' and 'Pope Innocent X, 1650' by Diego Velázquez, 'The Physician’s Visit' by Jan Steen, and David Teniers II’s 'A Village Festival on St George’s Day'.