Friends of the National Libraries
The Friends of the National Libraries was founded in 1931. It is a voluntary organisation consisting mainly of individual members, with the purpose of helping libraries in the United Kingdom acquire books, manuscripts and archives. The Friends do this by giving grants for acquisitions by National Libraries; eliciting and channelling benefactions; and organising appeals and publicity.
Friends of the National LibrariesSupport from the Friends has enabled the Gallery to acquire manuscripts, books and associated portraits of outstanding significance:
- Letters and papers relating to the Kit-cat club, 1689-1777, acquired in 1945
- Extra-illustrated set of the Dictionary of National Biography, from the collection of J.H. Macdonnell, acquired in 1966
- Manuscript ledger by George Romney, 1786-96, acquired in 1981
- The Brownlow album of mezzotint portraits after Lely and Van Dyck published by Alexander Browne, acquired in 1985
- Manuscript sketchbook by George Romney, c.1772, acquired in 1994
- Lady Ottoline Morrell Photograph Collection, acquired in 2003
A selection of works acquired with help from the Friends of the National Libraries.
John Gerard
by William Rogers, after Unknown artist
published 1598
NPG D2756
Sir Peter Lely
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
circa 1680-1684
NPG D11398
The Five Eldest Children of King Charles I
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
circa 1680-1684 (1637)
NPG D11400
King Charles II
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
circa 1680-84 (circa 1671)
NPG D11401
Mary of Modena
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
circa 1680-1684
NPG D11402
Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton
by Isaac Beckett, published by Alexander Browne, after Thomas Hawker
circa 1684
NPG D11403
Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
circa 1684 (circa 1678-1680)
NPG D11404
King Charles I; King Charles II
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
circa 1684 (circa 1632)
NPG D11399
Jane Austen
by Cassandra Austen
circa 1810
NPG 3630
No work found
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
after William Nicholson
1897
NPG D2895
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by H. Walter Barnett
1902
NPG P1005
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by George Charles Beresford
4 June 1903
NPG P1006
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by George Charles Beresford
4 June 1903
NPG P1007
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by Baron Adolph de Meyer
circa 1907
NPG P1098
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by Baron Adolph de Meyer
circa 1907
NPG P1099
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by Baron Adolph de Meyer
1912
NPG P1008
Katherine Mansfield
by John Herbert Folker
1917
NPG P1009