Thomas Burgess (1756-1837) was the founder of St David's College, Lampeter. He was the Bishop of St David's from 1803 to 1825, and of Salisbury from 1825 until his death.

This undated work shows a head-and-shoulders, full-face likeness of Burgess as a young man. John Russell was a renowned worker in this medium, and his mature technique has been described as 'pastel painting, rather than drawing'.

Source: A. J. Brothers, 'Art at Lampeter', in 'A bold imagining: University of Wales Lampeter 1827-2002', eds Keith Robbins and John Morgan-Guy, 2003